ROCH Translation ..... 8 onwards

I am going to attempt to translate ROCH. I would like to put emphasis on the word attempt There are uncompleted translations of LOCH and HSDS so I thought I might as well add ROCH to the list. Only joking, I'm just doing this to try to improve my chinese as I would class myself semi literate in chinese This may not be the best wuxia novel ever but it was the 1983 adaption which introduced me to wuxia so I guess it can't be bad.
Before I post the first parts of chapter one, I'm gonna make some disclaimers. The ROCH I'm translating is from qiqi.com so I don't know which edition it is.

Questionmarks in brackets are parts of the translation which I'm not too sure about and maybe I'll give it more thought later, not everyone's chinese is as good as Meh, Athena, Tigerwong etc.

If I've made any major booboos in my translation please let me know and provide the correct translation

The names are in mandarin ping ying, I couldn't be bothered to change it to cantonese.

Some translations have both english and ping ying if I think the english translation sounds kinda weird.

Please forgive the poorly translated first few paragraphs as I was just getting into the swing of things.

Also forgot to add, credit to Jin Yong, Mr Louis Cha for writing this novel.

Yang Guo quietly opened the window and slipped inside the room of the two Taoists, and saw two bags on the bed, he lifted one up and felt its weight, there were about twenty taels of silver and thought, “Just what I need for travelling expenses.” He took it and placed it into his pocket. The other bag was around four feet long; it was two long swords. He took each one out separately and heavily snapped the two swords, and placed it back into their sheath, he then wrapped the swords up. He was about to leave the room when another thought crossed his mind, he took off his trousers and urinated all over the two Taoists' quilt and covers.
He heard the sounds of someone climbing up a wall, and knew that the Taoists’ lightness kung fu were very ordinary, they weren’t able to clear the wall in a single leap, they had to first climb up on top of the wall and then leap down. He quickly darted back into his room, quietly closing the window. The Taoists did not notice anything. Yang Guo placed his ear against the wall to hear what was happening. He heard the Taoists quietly talking, they seemed to think that victory in tomorrow’s duel was in their grasp, they were undressing when suddenly Pi Quan Xuan called out, “Hey, Why are the blankets damp and wet? Ah, it stinks, apprentice brother Ji, why are you so lazy, wetting yourself on the blankets?"
Ji Qing Xu spat out, “What wetting themselves?” He picked up the blanket and called out, “When did a stinking cat urinate here?”
Pi Quan Xuan said, “How can a cat urinate so much?”
Ji Qing Xu said, “Hmm, that’s strange, where’s our money?” Suddenly the room was turned upside down as the two searched for their money. Yang Guo sniggered.
He heard Pi Qing Xu call out loudly, “Inn owner, inn owner, this is an evil inn, isn’t it? Stealing money from guests in the middle of the night?”
They called out a few times, the inn owner woke up from his sleep and came to ask what they wanted. Pi Quan Xu grabbed his chest and said that he was opening an evil inn, the inn owner made a clamour, and alerted the inn’s waiters, kitchen staff and the attendants, the guests of the inn also all came out to see what it was all about. Yang Guo hid himself amongst the crowd, only to see the inn owner have his way in the argument, his mouth and tongue couldn’t stop moving, refuting so much that the two Taoists couldn’t get a word in edgeways. That inn owner loves to argue, normally he would stir trouble with others when nothing has happened, now someone has started to provoke him first, and the fact was that justice was completely on his side. He spoke until his mouth started to foam up, and his spirit was becoming more and more intensified. The two Taoists were angry and embarrassed, they wanted to use force but they remembered the rules of their sect, they were now at the foot of mount Zhong Nan, how could they dare to start trouble? They could only swallow their anger and close their door, and sleep for the night. The inn owner continued to chatter and grumble outside non-stop.
The next morning Yang Guo got up and ate a bowl of noodles, the chatty inn owner came over to greet him, he kept on mumbling curses and insults under his breath. Yang Guo smiled and asked, “How are those two villainous Taoists?”
The inn owner brashly said, “Real bastards. Those Taoists wanted to eat and live here freely and so on respect of Chong Yang Palace I was going to allow them, but they dare to say that I am opening an evil inn. Huh, I’m definitely going to tell Chong Yang Palace. The Taoists of Quan Zhen are thousands and thousands, which one of them doesn’t adhere to the strict rules and regulations? I can clearly remember the scoundrelous face of those two villainous Taoists, I’m definitely going to point them out…” Yang Guo was amused and stirred in a few words, he gave him the money for the room and food, and made sure he knew the way to ‘Wolf Valley’ and then left.
In the wink of an eye he had already travelled over thirty miles and weren’t far from the ‘Wolf Valley’, he looked up at the sky and saw that it was still early. He thought, “I’ll first hide by the side and watch how Gu Gu cope with the enemy. It’s best if Gu Gu does not recognise me first.”
Yang Guo thought about the day when he fooled Hong Ling Bo, and felt pleased with himself, and decided to do the same once more. He went to a nearby farmer’s house, and looked around in the back garden, he saw a large bull losing it’s temper, its horns raised knocking into the bull keep, making loud noises. Yang Guo’s brain lit up and thought, “I’ll pretend to be a farmer, Gu Gu will definitely not be able to recognise me.”
He quietly sneaked into the house, in the house he saw two babies playing on the floor, he didn’t dare to make any sort of noise. He found a set of farmer’s clothes and changed into it and put on a pair of grass shoes, he got some dirt and rubbed it into his face. On the wall was a bamboo rain hat, which he took and wore. He picked up a grass rope and tied it around his waist, and then inserted a short flute in it. He then went and opened the gate. When the bull saw him going, it began to get angry and when it saw the gate was open, it charged forward aiming to knock into his body. Yang Guo’s left palm pushed down on the bull’s head, and flew onto its back. The bull was tall and bulky, each leg weighed about seven hundred kilos, its tail long and horns sharp and it was extremely large, in the blink of an eye it had already charged onto the main road. It was angry, violent and hot-tempered at this moment in time, it used all its strength to jolt upwards, wanting to knock Yang Guo off its back. Yang Guo sat on it’s back steadily, and was extremely pleased with himself, he laughed out, “If you don’t obey you are going to suffer.” He raised his palm, and chop down on the bull’s head. He only used twenty percent of his strength, and the bull already could not endure it and called out, it wanted to jump up again but Yang Guo sent down another chop. He chopped down about ten or so times, and the bull eventually did not dare to retaliate. Yang Guo then poked the bull’s neck with his finger on the left side and it turned right; when he poked it on the right side of the neck, it turned left, when he poked it on the back it moved forward, and at the front it moved back, he was able to control its movements with his finger. Yang Guo then used strength to poke its behind, the bull headed forward fiercely and dashed forward as it were a horse, in a short while they passed a forest, and came to a valley surrounded by mountains, it was how the inn owner described it. He leapt down from the bull’s back, and allowed it to graze on the grass on the mountain slopes. His hand held his rope as he lay down on the ground.
He looked at the sun and saw it gradually approaching the middle of the sky. He was becoming more and more nervous, he was scared that Xiao Long Nuu would ignore the meeting and won’t show up. It was quiet and peaceful all around, with only the bull making a few grunting noises. Suddenly, at the entrance of the valley were the sounds of palms clashing, followed by more sounds of palms clashing in the direction of the south side. Yang Guo was lying on the slope, one muddy leg crossed over his knee, his bamboo hat was covering his face, only his right eye was revealed.
After a while, three Taoists appeared at the opening of the valley. Two of them were the Taoists from last night at the inn, Ji Qing Xu and Pi Quan Xuan, the other was about forty years old, he was quite short, he was probably martial uncle Shen, Yang Guo studied his face and remembered that he has seen him at Chong Yang Palace before. Two men followed. One was a rugged looking man, the other had a head full of white hair and was an old man, they were the Beggar Clan members Chen and Han. The five all walked closer together and saluted each other and then formed a line, all looking around.
At that time, a quiet trotting sound was heard from outside the mouth of the valley. The five men all looked at each other and stared at the entrance of the valley. They heard the sound getting closer and closer, there was a black and white reflection at the entrance of the valley, a girl in white was riding on top of a black donkey coming forward.
When Yang Guo saw this his heart shivered, “It’s not Gu Gu! Could it be another one of their team?” Only to see the girl rein in the donkey at a few feet away from the five, she glanced at the five coldly, her face was filled with contempt, it looked like that she didn’t want to speak to them.
Ji Qing Xu called out, “Little *****, well, well, well, you do have guts, you might as well call your help out.”
The girl chuckled, a ‘shua’ sound was heard as she pulled out a small and thin sabre from her waist, it looked like the curved moon, the silver glittering in one’s eye.
Ji Qing Xu said, “There are five of us, we can’t wait with patience for you help to arrive.”
The girl waved her sabre and said, “This is my help.” The sabre producing a ‘weng’ noise as it was waved in the air.”
As she said this, the six of them were shocked. The five of them were shocked at the fact that a girl on her own would have the guts to fight five skilled fighters without any help. Yang Guo was extremely disappointed and hurt, he was sure that he would see Xiao Long Nuu, how would he know that the so-called ‘beautiful girl in white’ was another person, his opposing air in his chest surged up, he wasn’t able to control it anymore and cried out.
When he cried, the six others were alarmed, but all they saw was a farmer letting his bull out grazing on the slope, they didn’t take any notice of him, they thought that is was just a young country bumpkin who had suffered some problems and was crying out.
Ji Qing Xu pointed out at the one named Han and said, “This is the Beggar Clan’s hero Han.” He pointed to the one named Chen and said, “This is the Beggar Clan’s hero Chen.” He then pointed to ‘martial uncle Shen’ and said, “Our martial uncle Shen Zhi Fan, you’ve seen him before.”
The girl ignored him, her eyes cold, she glanced at them a few times, treating them as nothing.
Shen Zhi Fan said, “You came on your own, we can’t fight with you. We’ll give you a deadline of ten days, ten days after you need to bring four helpers to meet us.”
The girl said, “I’ve said I’ve already got my help, against you bunch of nobodies why do I need to get more people?”
Shen Zhi Fan angrily said, “Little girl, you really are bold” His words were going to be insults and he managed to force himself to ask, “Are you from the Ancient Tomb sect?”
The girl said, “So what if I am? So what if I’m not? You stupid old Taoist, do you have the guts to fight with me or don’t you?”
Shen Zhi Fan saw that she was alone but was sure that she had strong backing, she must have them nearby, and he was also afraid that he would invite trouble from the Ancient Tomb’s Li Mo Chou so he said, “Miss, I have a question, why did you hurt members of my sect for no reason? If it was our fault, then I will publicly apologise to your master, but if miss can’t give a good reason then forgive us for being impolite.”
The girl chuckled and said, “Of course it was those two bullish Taoists’ fault, I just taught them a lesson. If there weren’t so much scoundrels in the world, why must I cut off their ears?” Shen Zhi Fan saw that she was extremely brash and couldn’t stop himself from becoming startled.
The beggar named Chen was old but he still had a temper on him, he took a step forward and shouted, “Little girl, you are talking to seniors here, how come you haven’t got off your donkey?” As he said this he shot forward towards the black donkey and stretched out a hand to grab her right arm. His hand came out extremely quick, the girl wasn’t able to dodge it and she was grabbed immediately. Her right hand was also the hand that was holding her blade, so she wasn’t able to use her blade to repel the attack. Unexpectedly, the cold light moved, the girl’s arm twisted and the curved blade chopped down. Beggar Chen was startled and quickly let go. At least he was alert, and quickly changed his stance but the blade cut his two fingers. He quickly leapt back and drew out a blade and called out, “*****, you must be bored with your life.” The beggar named Han drew out a lead hammer, and Shen Zhi Fan drew out his sword. Ji Qing Xu and Pi Qing Xuan held onto their sword handles and pulled it out but felt that something was wrong with the sword’s weight. Both of them called out ‘Ai!’ and were shocked, the swords in their hands were broken.
When the girl saw the two Taoists’ expression she couldn’t stop herself form laughing. Yang Guo was lamenting at this time, when he heard the girl laugh he looked at the two Taoists’ embarrassing expression. He couldn’t stop himself from turning his tears into laughter. He saw the girl bend her waist and hacked down with her sabre at Pi Qing Xuan’s head. Pi Qing Xuan quickly pulled back his head but he didn’t know the move wasn’t finished, a slight turn of the wrist and the sabre turned in the air and eventually cut Pi Qing Xu’s right cheek; blood started to flow out of it. The other four were alarmed and angry, they quickly surrounded her. The Taoists Pi and Ji retreated to the back, their hands holding onto the broken swords. They didn’t want to throw them away but they weren’t much use, they didn’t know what to do.
The girl called out clearly, her left hand pulled on the reins and the donkey dashed forward. Beggar Chen and Han were the closest, the blade and the hammer both attacked. Shen Zhi Fan followed in and used Quan Zhen’s sword techniques, every stance aiming for the important points of the enemy. Yang Guo saw that although his sword skills were vicious, compared with Zhao Zhi Jing and Yin Zhi Ping, their skills were far apart, out of the Taoists with the name Zhi, he was with the lesser skilled. Yang Guo was now calm, he studied the girl’s face carefully; she saw that she had an oval face, pretty, she was younger than him by a year or so, no wonder the inn owner couldn’t believe that the ‘beautiful girl in white’ was his older sister. Though she wore white, her skin was slightly dark, it was very different to the brilliant snow white of Xiao Long Nuu’s. He saw that her sabre stances were light and swift, it seems to be derived from sword stances, there were more stabs and thrusts and rather less chops and hacks.
Yang Guo watched for a few stances and thought, “Indeed she is using our sect’s kung fu, could it be that she is a student of Li Mo Chou?”
Yang Guo thought how both sides weren’t good people, he couldn’t care less who won or loss but then another thought entered his mind, “How could you be the ‘beautiful girl in white’? You're not even worthy to be my Gu Gu’s maid.” He folded his arms behind his head and lied down facing the sky, watching the battle.
For the first ten moves or so, the girl was able hold her own, she was on the donkey’s back, attacking from above with the sabre, the five of them had no choice but to jump back and dodge. Another ten moves passed, Ji Qing Xu saw that the broken sword in his hand was useless, a thought suddenly entered him and he called out, “Apprentice brother Pi, follow me.” He quickly headed to the nearby woods and picked a fine small tree, he chopped its roots and branches with his broken swords and made a large stick. Pi Quan Xuan did the same. The two attacked from the left and right, thrusting forward at the donkey.
The girl quietly said, “Shameless!” She waved her sabre at them to fend them off and became distracted; Beggar Han’s hammer and Shen Zhi Fan’s sword arrived. The girl quickly used a risky technique; she lowered her head and slanted her body, the hammer’s wind swept over her face. A clashing sound was heard as the sabre met with the sword, at that moment the black donkey cried out in pain, it’s front legs raised; Ji Qing Xu had struck it with the stick. Beggar Chen did a roll and used his sabre techniques, the flat side of his sabre heavily struck down on the donkey’s leg; the donkey immediately rolled over. The young girl was now unable to fight them on the donkey’s back. She saw a sword coming straight at her and immediately flew away, she grabbed Pi Qing Xu’s stick and snapped it in half. Her legs landed on the floor and she slashed across with her sabre, repelling beggar Chen’s chop.
Yang Guo was startled, “What? Is she hurt?”
The girl was actually slightly lame in her left leg, from the leap, one can see her restricted movements, this is why she had refused to come down from her donkey. Yang Guo’s heroic nature was moved and wanted to intervene and help her but a thought entered his mind, “Gu Gu and I were fine living in the tomb, it was that evil woman Li Mo Chou who caused us to be in this situation. That girl pretends to be my Gu Gu, wanting people to call her the ‘beautiful girl in white’, she’s shameless!” He turned away and stopped watching.
But he kept on hearing the sounds of continuous clashing of weapons and wasn’t able to curb his curiosity, he turned his head again. He saw that the situation had now changed, the girl was now dodging east and evading west, she was defending more than attacking. Suddenly the Han beggar’s metal hammer came flying in, the girl moved her head and dodged it, at the same time, Shen Zhi Fan’s slashed across, a ‘ding’ sound was heard, her silver hair loop was cut; half her hair swept down. The girl’s brows raised, her mouth opened, a frosty look came upon her face as she turned her hand and slashed across.
Yang Guo saw her angry expression and his heart shook, “When Gu Gu was angry, she looked exactly like this.” Because the girl became angry Yang Guo decided to help her, he picked up seven, eight stones and placed it in his pocket. He glanced at her again and saw that she was in a frantic situation.
Shen Zhi Fan called out, “What exactly is your relation to the ‘Serpent Deity’ Li Mo Chou? If you don’t tell us truthfully, don’t blame us on our actions!”
The girl’s sabre slashed across, hooking across the back of his head. Shen Zhi Fan couldn’t predict that she would do this and wasn’t able to block.
Beggar Chen quickly called out, “Careful!”
Ji Qing Xu fiercely struck the curved sabre with his large stick and managed to save the life of Shen Zhi Fan. The five saw that her stances were all ruthless, not leaving anything to chance. In a short while, the girl continuously unleashed a series of dangerous stances. Shen Zhi Fan was sure that she was connected to Li Mo Chou somehow, if news of this ever got to the evil serpent, he would have boundless troubles. He saw that she indeed did not have any back up, now was a good chance to kill her and seal her mouth so every stance he used were all aiming to wound the girl.
Yang Guo saw that the girl was now staring at danger in the face, he had no time to delay, he flipped up and got on the bull’s back, he hung his legs on its back and dangled down underneath and then poked the bull in the buttocks. The bull started to dash at the six.
The six of them was absorbed in battle when they suddenly saw a mad bull rushing forward, they were all alarmed and leapt out of the way. Yang Guo was dangling below the bull and saw the pressure points on the back of the five men, the pebbles shot out, they were struck in the ‘Soul Entrance’ and the ‘Spirit Hall’ pressure points. He heard calls of ‘Ai Ya!’ and the five felt their arms become numb, their weapons dropped out of their hands. Yang Guo then sent the bull up to the slope. He dropped down from the bull’s stomach onto the ground and called out, “Oh no, the bull’s gone mad!”
Shen Zhi Fan’s pressure points were sealed and his weapon escaped from his hand, but he didn’t see the enemy do this and thought that this was the deed of the girl’s backup, that person was highly skilled, how did he dare to fight anymore? Luckily his legs were still able to move, he quickly ran away but he still remembered his friends and called out, “Brother Chen, brother Han, let’s go!” The others didn’t think about this anymore and followed.
Pi Quan Xuan lost his bearings and was actually running towards the girl.
Ji Qing Xu called out, “Apprentice brother Pi, over here!”
Pi Quan Xuan was about to turn around when the girl took a step forward and chopped down with her sabre. Pi Quan Xuan was alarmed, he didn’t have a weapon and quickly dodged to the side, but how would he know that the girl’s sabre wasn’t chopping down in a fixed direction, it went east and then west, the light of the blade glimmered as it was about to slash down across his face. Pi Quan Xuan raised his arm in danger, a ‘ca’ sound was made as the sabre hacked off four fingers. He had yet to feel the pain as he quickly turned around and ran away.
Beggar Han ran ten or so steps and saw that the girl did not follow followed and thought, “That ***** is lame, how can she chase us?” When he considered that she was lame, he glanced at her left leg then turned around and hurried away. How would he know that look angered the girl, she couldn’t contain her fury and shouted out, “Scoundrel, don’t you think I can’t catch up with you?” She lifted her sabre and swung it around a few times, a ‘fu’ sound was made as she threw it out. She saw the sabre glimmer in midair, a ‘pu’ sound was heard as the sabre plunged itself in the left shoulder of beggar Han. That person kept on hurrying with the sabre in his back. In a short while, the five of them had escaped into the forest.
The girl chuckled but was suspicious, “Could there be someone nearby? Why did they help me?” The beggar named Han had taken the sabre that she normally uses away, she felt that it was such a pity. She picked up the sabre that Beggar Chen had left and quickly went over to the forest to take a look but there wasn’t a trace of anyone around and returned to the valley.
She saw Yang Guo sobbing miserably on the floor, calling and shouting out that woe is he.
The girl asked, “Hey, little farmer, what woe are you talking about?”
Yang Guo said, “The bull’s gone mad, it’s skin and body is ripped and bruised, when I get back to master’s house he'll definitely going to kill me.”
The young girl took a look at the bull, but saw nothing was wrong with it and said, “Fine, your bull did help me out, I’ll give you some money.” As she said this she took out some money and threw it down to the ground. She thought that Yang Guo was going to thank her, but she couldn’t have predicted that Yang Guo still had the same expression on his face, shaking his head not picking up the money.
The young girl said, “What’s wrong with you? Fool, it’s money.”
Yang Guo said, “One ingot is not enough.” The girl took another ingot and threw it down to the ground. Yang Guo wanted to mess her around and shook his head.
The young girl got angry and raised her brows, and shouted, “I’ve no more fool!” She turned around and walked away. When Yang Guo saw her angry expression, he couldn’t stop the blood in his chest and head rising. His eyes ached, he remembered the expression that Xiao Long Nuu had when she scolded him, he made a decision, “If I can’t find Gu Gu for the time being, I might as well look at that girl’s angry look.” He stretched out and grabbed her right leg and called out, “You can’t go!”
The girl tried to pull away but he held her so tightly that she wasn’t able to escape; she became even angrier and shouted, “Let go! Why are you holding onto me?”
Yang Guo saw that her anger was flourishing and he became happier, he called out, “I’m not going to return home, save me.” He then loudly called out, “Save me, save me!”
The young girl was angry but was amused at the same time, she raised her sabre and called out, “If you don’t let go I’ll chop you to death in one go.”
Yang Guo held on even tighter and pretended to cry, he said, “Chop me to death, I’ll be dead anyway if I return home.”
The girl said, “Where do you want to go?”
Yang Guo said, “I don’t know, I’ll follow you.”
The young girl thought, “There’s no reason to get a little idiot to follow me around.” She raised her sabre and hacked down. Yang Guo thought that she wasn’t really going to chop down so he held tightly to her leg, he couldn’t have guessed that the girl was ruthless, her chop was really heading for his head, although she didn’t want to kill him she did want to cut down on his head and let him suffer a bit so he won’t dare to bother her again. Yang Guo saw the sabre coming down on him, when there was just a few inches between his head and the blade he rolled away and called out, “Murderer, murderer!”
The girl became angrier and dashed forward wanting to chop down forward again. Yang Guo was lying on the floor, his legs flying everywhere, he called out, “I’m dead, I’m dead!”
His muddy legs and hands were scrambling about everywhere, he made himself look as dreadful as possible but when the girl came hacking down with her sabre, his leg would kick her wrist and in the end she wasn’t able to chop down. Yang Guo saw her angry expression, it was what he wanted to see and he stared at her.
The girl saw that he was looking weird and shouted, “Get up!”
Yang Guo said, “Are you going to kill me?”
The girl said, “Fine, I won’t kill you.” Yang Guo picked himself up and gasped deeply, he secretly restricted his blood flow, his face became pale, as if he was scared to death.
The young girl was pleased with herself and gave an ‘humph’ sound, and said, “Let’s see if you'll still dare to trouble me.” She raised her sabre and pointed to the slope where Pi Quan Xuan’s fingers were hacked off and said, “I’m fierce and violent, I slashed off his fingers.” Yang Guo pretended to be frightened and worried, he kept on shuffling backwards. The girl placed her sabre in her belt and turned around to search for her black donkey, but the donkey had long disappeared, she could only travel by foot.
Yang Guo picked up the money and placed it in his pocket, he held the bull’s rope and followed her and said, “Gu Gu, take me away.”
The girl ignored him and sped up, in a short while she had left him without a trace. Who could have guessed that when she was taking a little break, he was hurrying towards her with the bull calling out, “Take me away, take me away.”
The girl brows raised and then utilized her lightness kung fu, in one breath she had gone over a few miles, and knew that he won’t be able to catch up, but in a short while she could hear a quiet call of "Take me away!”
The girl became furious, she turned around and took out her sabre, raising it in the air.
Yang Guo called out, “Oh no!” He held his head and ran away. The girl just wanted him to stop following and that was it, she then turned around and walked away.
Soon, she heard the grunt of a bull, she turned around and saw Yang Guo about forty steps away, holding on to the bull following behind her. She stopped and waited for him. When Yang Guo saw that she stopped, he stopped moving as well, when she walked, he followed and when she chased after him with the sabre he ran away. This stopping and following continued until it started to get dark, the young girl was still unable to escape from Yang Guo’s pursue. The girl saw although he looked dumb, he pace was not ordinary, she thought that he must be used to running around in the mountains. She wanted him to chase up to her so she could knock him out or hurt his legs but each time he was able to roll out of the danger and escape.
After a few while, the girl was becoming tired; her left leg was lame and moving was troublesome. She had an idea and called out, “Fine, I’ll take you away, you have to listen to what I say.”
Yang Guo said delightedly, “You really are going to take me away?”
The girl said, “Yes, why would I lie to you? I’m tired, you ride on the bull and then let me ride with you.”
Yang Guo lead the bull forward and caught up, under the cloudy skies, he saw her eye glistened and knew that she was up to something. He climbed onto the back of the bull. The girl’s right leg pushed up and she lightly flew up onto the bull’s back, sitting in front of Yang Guo. She thought, “My donkey is gone, riding on this bull won’t be bad.” She kicked the bull hard on the side, The bull felt pain and dashed forward quickly. The girl chuckled and suddenly elbowed backward with strength, hitting Yang Guo in the chest. Yang Guo called out ‘Ai Ya!’ and rolled off the back of the bull.
The young girl was extremely pleased and thought, “You little scoundrel, you suffered in my hands in the end.” She poked the bull in the side and the bull hurried forward even faster, she suddenly heard the calls and shouts of Yang Guo, the voice was just behind her, she turned her head to look around and saw him holding tightly onto the bull’s tail, his legs in midair. He was lifted up in the air by the bull, his face was full of dirt and mud, tears flowed, he was extremely frantic but he still held onto the bull’s tail tightly. The young girl had no other ideas and so raised her sabre aiming to slash down at his arm. She suddenly heard a clamour, the bull had reached a little town. In the crowd of people the bull had nowhere to go and stopped. Yang Guo wanted to mess the young girl around and see her angry face, he laid on the ground and called out, “My chest hurts, you’re beating me to death!” The town’s people all circled around and asked why.
The girl was going to take this chance of being surrounded by people and slip into the crowd and escape, but she couldn’t have guessed that Yang Guo picked himself up and held onto her right leg and called out, “Don’t go, don’t go!”
Yang Guo called out, “She’s my wife, she doesn’t want me and instead beats me.”
A person said, “A wife beating her husband, what is the world coming to?”
The girl’s brows raised and kicked out with her left leg. Yang Guo climbed up to the side of a burly man and gave him a push, the kick landed on his waist. The burly man shouted, “Little *****, kicking people?” He raised his massive fist. The young girl held the man’s elbow and used his strength to fling him away, the two hundred kilo body flew into the crowd, and caused the people in the crowd to scream and shout, making a scene. The girl used all her strength to pull free but how could she when Yang Guo was holding on with his life? She saw that another five, six people was coming up towards her, adding to her problems. She could only lower hear head and say, “I’ll take you away, quickly let go.”
Yang Guo said, “Are you still going to beat me?”
The young girl said, “Fine, I won’t!” Yang Guo loosened his hand and crawled up. The two of them rushed out of the crowd and headed out of the town, but they heard screams from behind. Yang Guo had managed to hold on to the bull.
Yang Guo laughed out, and said, “People say that the wife cannot beat the husband.”
The young girl angrily said, “Stupid Sha Dan, if you keep on talking this rubbish, saying I’m you wife and what not, watch me cut your head off.” She raised her sabre as she said this.
Yang Guo held his head and jumped to the side and pleaded, “Miss, I won’t say it anymore.”
The girl said, “Look at you, even an ugly old hag won’t marry you.” Yang Guo laughed foolishly and didn’t reply.
Right now, the sky was dark, the two stood in the unkempt land and turned around, and saw smoke from cooking rising up from the town; both felt hungry.
The young girl said, “Sha Dan, go to the market and buy ten buns.”
Yang Guo shook his head and said, “I won’t go.”
The young girl’s face turned heavy and said, “Why not?”
Yang Guo said, “I won’t go! You are tricking me to go buy some buns so you could sneak off.”
The young girl said, “I said I won’t slip away so I won’t.” Yang Guo shook his head. The girl curled up her fist wanting to hit him but he quickly jumped to the side. The two of them ran around the bull like they were playing hide and seek. The girl was lame and iy wasn’t convenient for her to move. She saw the boy tripping up in front of her crying and shouting out, yet although she possesses lightness kung fu, she was still unable to catch up with.
The girl was furious, she thought about how she knew martial arts, and for some reason, she had allowed an ugly and smelly country bumpkin Sha Dan to be on her tail and had no way to escape, it could be said that she was incompetent. Yang Guo had made himself so much like the character he was meant to be, otherwise, when the girl failed three or four times to kill the Sha Dan, she would have been suspicious long ago. She followed the main road south, she saw that Yang Guo was holding onto the bull catching up, she thought that she must find a way to kill him unexpectedly. In the short time it takes to cook rice, the sky had become even darker, she saw an old and run down stone house, it looked abandoned and thought, “Tonight I’ll sleep here, when that idiot is sleeping in the middle of the night, I’ll kill him with one slash.” She walked towards the house and entered, dust entered her nose, the chairs and tables were broken, it appeared that this house was deserted long ago. She cut some grass and wiped a long table clean, she laid across the table, closed her eyes and rested.
She saw that Yang Guo didn’t follow her, and called out, “Sha Dan! Sha Dan!” She didn’t hear a reply and thought, “Could it be that the fool know that I was going to kill him and so left!” She wasn’t concerned with it, and after a while she fell asleep, but suddenly the smell of meat entered her nose. She got up and went outside, she Yang Guo sitting under the moonlight holding a piece of meat, opening his mouth to bite into it. Before him was a fire, on top of the fire was array of branches, meat was roasted on it, the smell of it floating towards her.
Yang Guo saw her come out and laughed, and said, “You want some?” He picked up a roasted piece of the shank and threw it towards her. She caught it with her hand and looked at it, it was a shank of meat, she was hungry and started to eat it, although it had no salt, it was still tasty. She sat by the fire and politely ate the meat. She first tore the meat off the shank, and then placed it into her mouth slowly, but she saw Yang Guo munching noisily, annoying herself, but she was hungry so she turned around and looked away from him. When she finished her meat, Yang Guo gave her another piece.
The young girl said, “Sha Dan, what’s your name?”
Yang Guo said, “Are you an angel? How do you know I’m called Sha Dan?”
The young girl laughed and said, “Ha, so your name is Sha Dan. Where are your parents?”
Yang Guo said, “They’ve been dead long ago. What’s your name?”
The young girl said, “I don’t know. Why are you asking?”
Yang Guo thought, “Since you won’t say then I’ll anger you.” He said brashly, “I know, you are called Sha Dan too, that’s why you won’t say.”
The young girl got angry, she got up and punched him in the head and scolded, “Who said I’m called Sha Dan? You are the Sha Dan.”
Yang Guo cried out and covered his head and said, “When someone asks me what I’m called, I say I don’t know so other people call me Sha Dan, since you don’t know, that means you are a Sha Dan as well.”
The young girl said, “Who says I don’t know? I just don’t want to tell you. Do you know that me surname is Lu?”

That young girl was the little girl who was picking lotuses in Jia Xing’s South Lake, Lu Wu Shuang. When she was plucking flowers with her cousin Cheng Ying and the Wu brothers, she broke her leg, when madam Wu was helping her to connect her leg back together, Hong Ling Bo had arrived to take their lives so her leg wasn’t connected properly, after it healed, her left leg was shorter by an inch or so, when she walks she walks like a lame. Although her skin was not white, she was still beautiful, when she had grown up she was even more so, but because her leg was lame, she was hateful.
When Li Mo Chou killed her parents and took her away, she was going to kill her but when she saw the handkerchief on her neck she remembered Lu Zhan Yuan, and so she did not kill her. Lu Wu Shuang was clever, she knew that her life was hanging on a thread now that she was under Li Mo Chou’s grasp, that witch goes and come like the wind, she will not be able to run away, so she pretended to be obedient and tried to please her, and eventually the urge to kill of the ‘Serpent Deity’, who kills without blinking, calmed down. Sometimes Li Mo Chou remembered the hurtful events of the past and would summon Lu Wu Shuang and shout at her for a while. Lu Wu Shuang would put on a pitiful face and limp along. When Li Mo Chou saw her sorry look, after shouting at her and getting rid of her anger that would be it. Lu Wu Shuang pleaded, and because she was just a little girl, Li Mo Chou did eventually allowed her to stay. She buried her thoughts of revenge for her parents in her heart. When Li Mo Chou asked her about it, she pretended that she had forgotten all about them. When Li Mo Chou and Hong Ling Bo were practising kung fu, she would stand by the side and pass over swords and towels, tea and fruits, concentrating. She already had a decent foundation, when she watched them practise she noted everything down, and when Li Mo Chou and Hong Ling Bo went out, she would secretly practise, and she would normally try to get Hong Ling Bo’s favour. Later Hong Ling Bo took advantage of the mood that Li Mo Chou was in and pleaded on behalf of Lu Wu Shuang, and eventually she became her disciple. A few years passed, Lu Wu Shuang’s kung fu improved every day, but Li Mo Chou was still suspicious of her so did not teach her the most advanced skills, even the intermediate skills were not passed on. Hong Ling Bo took pity on her and would give her some pointers in secret. Although it can’t be said that Lu Wu Shuang skills were high, her skills were not low either. That day when Li Mo Chou and Hong Ling Bo went to the tomb to search for the [Jade Heart Manual], Lu Wu Shuang had saw that they did not return for a long time, so she decided to escape and go to Jia Xing in search of news about her parents. Although she saw with her own eyes Li Mo Chou seriously wounding her parents, she thought that she had not seen them die, there was still a glimmer of hope, she held onto this glimmer of hope and went to find out the truth. Before she left, she thought she might as well go all the way, and took Li Mo Chou’s book, the ‘Five Poison Codex’; it was a copy of a list of poisons and its antidotes.
Her left leg was lame, and she hated those who looked at it, one day in an inn, two Taoists looked at her leg and she immediately shouted at them. The two Taoists did not have a good temper, after a few words they used force, they started to fight and with her curved sabre, she cut off their ears and agreed to meet them at Wolf Valley the next day.
That day when Li Mo Chou took her away and headed north, she and Yang Guo had met each other at the entrance of the cave, but then they were both young, their faces have now changed, they weren’t able to remember their encounter years ago.

Lu Wu Shuang was full after she finished the second piece of roasted meat. Yang Guo used the light of the fire to look at her face, “Where on earth is my Gu Gu? If the girl in front of me was Gu Gu, and I was roasting meet for her, wouldn’t that be great?” He was deep in thought, and stared at her, like if he was mad.
Lu Wu Shuang thought, “I’ll endure your disrespectful stare for now, I’ll kill you later in the middle of the night.” She then returned to the stone house and slept.
In the middle of the night, she quietly got up, she went outside and saw Yang Guo by the fireside not moving, the fire had gone out long ago. She went over to him and slashed him with her blade across his back, her wrist suddenly shook, it started to ache, she couldn’t hold onto the sabre and let go, she felt that the place she slashed across was like metal and stone. She became extremely frightened and leapt away, and thought, “Could it be that Sha Dan has reached the state of being impenetrable with blades and spears?” She moved away tens of feet, but Yang Guo had not chased after her, she turned around, he was still by the fireside, not moving an inch.
Lu Wu Shuang was suspicious and called out, “Sha Dan, Sha Dan! I have something to say to you.” Yang Guo did not reply. She took a careful look, and saw Yang Guo’s body had formed a circle, it looked extremely strange, she boldly went over and saw that it did not look like the body of a person, she stretched out her hand and touched him, it felt like clothes were placed on top of an rock. She grabbed the clothes and lifted up, indeed there was a large rock below. Where was Yang Guo?
She stood there for a while and called out, “Sha Dan, Sha Dan!” She didn’t hear a reply so she listened carefully, there seemed to be a snoring noise from the house. She went over there quietly and saw Yang Guo sleeping on the table that she had just slept on, his back towards her, snoring loudly in a deep sleep.
Lu Wu Shuang was angry, and didn’t even think about how he ended up sleeping on the table, she immediately leapt forward and raised her sabre, and pierced into his back.
The sabre’s tip had plunged into flesh but she didn’t feel any resistance in her hands but heard Yang Guo snore a few times and then said in his sleep, “Who’s scratching my back, don’t, don’t I’m scare.”
Lu Wu Shuang was scared pale, her arms quivered, thinking, “Is this person a demon?” She turned around to run but her legs didn’t listen. She then heard him say, “There must be a mouse on my back trying to steal my meat.” He stretched out his hand to his back and took out a lump of meat, and threw it onto the ground.
Lu Wu Shuang finally breathed out and understood, “So that Sha Dan put the meat on his back, just now I stabbed into that, I just suffered a fright in vain.”
She had failed twice to stab him and she hated him even more, she bit her teeth and quietly said, “Rotten Sha Dan, see if I’m able to kill you this time.” She dashed forward and raised her sabre, then slashing down across his back. In the midst of the snoring, Yang Guo turned his body, the sabre slashed down deeply into the wood. Lu Wu Shuang circulated her chi around her hands trying to remove the sabre. Yang Guo pretended he was having a nightmare, “Mum, mum, the little mouse is biting me.” His muddy legs shot out, the left leg striking Lu Wu Shuang’s ‘Crooked Reservoir’ (qu chi) pressure point on the side of her body, his right leg landing on her shoulder sealing the ‘Shoulder Well’ (jian jing) pressure point. Those two points are two of two of the body's important pressure points, when those legs came out, out of all the places to hit, it hit those two places. Lu Wu Shuang wasn’t able to move, she stood there, becoming a support for his legs.
Lu Wu Shuang was furious, although her body wasn’t able to move, her mouth still could, she shouted out, “Hey Sha Dan, quickly move your stinky feet away.” She just heard his snoring becoming louder. She didn’t know what to do, in anger, she opened her mouth and spat at him. Yang Guo moved his body, his right foot brushed across and struck her ‘Large Bone’ pressure point. Lu Wu Shuang’s body immediately became numb all over, even her mouth wasn’t able to open, the stench from his feet flowed into her nose.
In a short while, Lu Wu Shuang's anger stirred up again, and swore to herself, “Tomorrow when my pressure points are unsealed, I’m going to chop up Sha Dan into seventeen, eighteen pieces.”
After a while, Yang Guo felt that he had enough fun, he released his legs and turned around, although it was dark, he was still able to look at her angry expression clearly. The angrier she got, the more she looked like Xiao Long Nuu, Yang Guo stared at her in a daze, how would he be able to close his eyes? In actual fact, Lu Wu Shuang and Xiao Long Nuu did not look like each other, it’s just that when all girls get angry they all have a similar look, Yang Guo missed his master and looking at Lu Wu Shuang’s angry expression reminded him of Xiao Long Nuu, like looking at a picture of her.
After a while, the moon was in the west, its light shooting into the room. Lu Wu Shuang saw Yang Guo’s eyes were open, staring at her in a daze and shivered, “Could it be that Sha Dan is pretending to be mad? He sealed my pressure points, could it be that it wasn’t an accident?” When she thought about this, she couldn’t stop herself from breaking out in a cold sweat. At this moment in time, she saw Yang Guo’s eyes looking at the ground, she followed his eyes and saw three shadows on the ground, there were three people standing at the entrance. She looked carefully and saw that the three shadows were holding weapons, she secretly cursed herself, “Crap, the enemy has to come now when Sha Dan has sealed my pressure points.” Although she was suspicious, she couldn’t believe that this dirty and humble farmer could ever possess a set of good martial arts.
Yang Guo closed his eyes and snored loudly. He heard someone call out from the door, “Little *****, come out, do you think Taoist master here will let you off by standing still?”
Yang Guo thought, “Oh, it’s him again.”
Another person said, “We don’t want your life, we just want to cut off your two ears and three fingers.”
The third person said, “Old man here is waiting for you outside, just get it over and done with.” As they said this they moved outside. The three of them stood in a semi circle.
Yang Guo stretched up and slowly sat up and said, “What are you calling outside, miss Lu, you are here? Why are you standing there without moving?” He pushed her in the back a few times. Lu Wu Shuang felt a surge of strong chi running into her body, her body shook and the three pressure points in her body unsealed. She didn’t bother thinking about what happened and immediately got up and took out her sabre. She leapt out of the house and saw three men with their backs facing the moon. She didn’t say anything and flipped her wrist and thrust out at the person on the left. That person was holding a chain, and saw the sabre slashing towards him. His chain was already heavy, its power was great and so was it’s accuracy, a clashing sound was heard as Lu Wu Shuang’s sabre flew out of her hand. Yang Guo was lying across the table and saw Lu Wu Shuang had leapt to the side, her left hand stretched out and thought, “Good, that Taoist will not be able to hold on to his sword.” Indeed when her wrist turned up, she used the Ancient Tomb sect’s kung fu, she had taken the Taoist’s sword and chopped down, a ‘pu’ sound, the Taoist's shoulder had been struck by the sword.
Lu Wu Shuang used her sword and fought with the man who used the chain. The other short man held a spear, he pierced east and west, but wasn’t out of order and stayed back. The man using the chain had good martial arts, after ten moves or so, Lu Wu Shuang gradually felt that she wasn’t able to stand still. That person’s steps seemed to be measured, he honoured his status, Lu Wu Shuang had failed many times yet he didn’t force the issue.
The Taoist wrapped up his wound and pointed at Lu Wu Shuang and cursed, “Ancient Tomb *****, such evil attacks!” He ran up towards her attacking with his fists and legs. A white light glimmered, the Taoist’s back was pierced by the sword, at that time, the short man thrust his spear at Lu Wu Shuang’s back, and the man using the chain smashed down on her shoulders.
Yang Guo thought, “Oh no!” His picked up two stones and flicked it out, one at the spear, the other at the man’s right wrist. He didn’t know that the man was skilled, once the stone had struck his wrist, he wasn’t able to smash down with his chain, but his left palm came out like lightning and struck Lu Wu Shuang in the chest. Yang Guo was alarmed, his was young and inexperienced and wasn’t able to tell that the man’s fists and palms were good, he quickly dashed out and held onto the man’s neck and flung him away. The man suddenly leapt up and was flung away tens of feet. The Taoist and the short man saw that Yang Guo was powerful, they picked up the man and ran away without turning back.
Yang Guo lowered his head and took a look at Lu Wu Shuang, he saw that her face was golden and breathing weak, her injury was serious, he stretched out his arm around her back and slowly sat her up, but he heard ‘ge la’ ‘ge la’ two light sounds, it was the sound of bones breaking, two of her ribs had been broken by that man. She had passed out but once the bones moved, the pain was intense and woke her up, she gave out a quiet groan.
Yang Guo said, “What is it? Does it hurt?”
Lu Wu Shuang was in extreme pain, she bit down her teeth and scolded, “Why are you asking? Of course it hurts. Carry me into the house.”
When Yang Guo picked her up, it was unavoidable that there was going to be some movements. Lu Wu Shuang’s bones touched each other and the pain ignited again, she scolded, “Fine, bastard Sha Dan, you…you want to torture me. Where have the three scoundrels gone?” When Yang Guo used his skills, she had already fainted and didn’t know that it was him who saved her life.
Yang Guo laughed, and said, “They thought you were dead, they clapped and left.”
Lu Wu Shuang scolded, “Why are you laughing? Bastard Sha Dan, the more pain I’m in the happier you are, isn’t it?” Every time she shouted at him, Yang Guo would remember how Xiao Long Nuu would scold him. He had lived in the Tomb of the Living Dead for a few years with Xiao Long Nuu, it was the happiest time in his life, each time Xiao Long Nuu scolded him, he couldn’t help but be moved as he knew that his master was treating him with her heart. At the present time he wasn’t able to find his master, but at the time when he was alone, he at least bumped into another girl in white. In actual fact, Xiao Long Nuu was cold and detached, when she scolded him it was just a few calm words, how was she like Lu Wu Shuang who screamed and shouted out insults and curses? In Yang Guo’s present state, having a young girl scolding him was better than having no one, he ignored her insults and curses and just smiled, he placed her on the table. When Lu Wu Shuang laid on the table, her broken ribs moved again, she couldn’t endure the pain and called out, when she called out in pain her lungs breathed out, this disturbed the ribs again causing further pain, she bit her teeth down as cold sweat poured on her head.
Yang Guo said, “Shall I fix your ribs back in place for you?”
Lu Wu Shuang scolded, “Rotten Sha Dan, what bones do you know how to fix?”
Yang Guo said, “My dog at home fought with the neighbour’s dog,
its bone was bitten in half, it was me who fixed his bone back in place. Also, when uncle Wang’s sow had its rib broken, it was me who fixed it back into place.”
Lu Wu Shuang was angry, but she didn’t dare to shout out loudly, she huskily said, “You’re calling me a sow, a dog. You’re the dog, the sow.”
Yang Guo laughed and said, “Even if I was a pig, I’ll be a boar. Furthermore, that dog was a *****, a male dog won’t be like that.”
Although Lu Wu Shuang was clever and quick with words, every time she spoke a word her chest would hurt, she wanted to argue with him but she had no strength left, she closed her eyes and endured the pain and ignored Yang Guo.
Yang Guo said, “Once I fixed that dog’s bone it recovered after a few days, when it fought again, it was as if its bone had never been broken.”
Lu Wu Shuang thought, “It could be that Sha Dan really knows how to correct bones. If no one heals me I’ll be dead. But if he helps me to fix my ribs, he’s going to touch my chest, how can I let him? Hmm, if he doesn’t cure me, then we’ll die together, if he does cure me, I won’t let those who’ve seen my body live.”
She’s had a tragic life since she was young, she endured it and fought for her life, her character was different to others, she has been with Li Mo Chou a long time, her ears and eyes have endured many things, she has learnt Li Mo Chou’s ruthless and vindictive streak, at such a young age she was already filed with such evil thoughts, she quietly said, “Fine! If you lie to me Sha Dan, I won’t let you die well.”
Yang Guo thought, “If I don’t make it hard for her now, I’m not going to have a chance again.” He calmly said, “When uncle Wang’s sow broke its ribs, his daughter begged and pleaded me for help, she called me ‘Big Brother’ one hundred times, and then I helped her” Lu Wu Shuang said, “Bull, bull, bull, rotten Sha Dan, rotten Sha Dan, ai ya” her chest was filled with severe pain again.
Yang Guo laughed and said, “If you don’t call me that then fine. I’m going home now, have a nice rest.” He got up and turned towards the door.
Lu Wu Shuang thought, “If that person goes, then I’m definitely going to die.” She had to hold down her temper and said, “What do you want?”
Yang Guo said, “Originally, all I wanted was you to call me ‘Good Brother’ one hundred times, but all along you have scolded and insulted me, I’ll help you if you call me it one thousand times.”
Lu Wu Shuang planned it in her heart, “I’ll promise him now, once I get better, it won’t be too late to get rid of him.”
So she said, “I’ll call good brother, good brother, good brother ai ya ai ya”
Yang Guo said, “Fine, there’s still nine hundred and ninety seven calls left, remember that, you can finish it when you are better.” He walked over to her, and stretched out his hand to take off her clothes.
Lu Wu Shuang automatically shuffled back, she was alarmed and said, “Go away, what are you doing?”
Yang Guo took a step back and said, “I don’t know how to put your bone back in place with your clothes in the way, the dog and sow didn’t have clothes when I fixed their bones.”
Lu Wu Shuang thought this was funny but she felt embarrassed if she allowed him to take her clothes off. After a while she lowered her head and quietly said, “Fine, I won’t trouble you.”
Yang Guo said, “If you don’t want to be healed, then don’t. I don’t care…”
As he said this, he heard someone suddenly say form outside, “That little ***** must be within twenty miles from here, we’ll quickly search around here…” when Lu Wu Shuang heard this voice she immediately turned pale with fright, she didn’t care about her pain and covered Yang Guo’s mouth, the person who was talking outside was Li Mo Chou.
When Yang Guo heard this voice he too was alarmed. He heard the voice of another girl say, “The sabre that was planted in that man’s shoulder looks like the silver sabre of apprentice sister, it’s a pity that we couldn’t get it for a closer look.” That person was Hong Ling Bo. After the two left the tomb, they returned to Scarlet Cloud manor, and discovered that Lu Wu Shuang had escaped, Li Mo Chou wasn’t too bothered, but they didn’t predict that she had also stole the ‘Five Poison Codex’. When Li Mo Chou roamed Jiang Hu, what the martial artists of the Jiang Hu world were afraid of were not her kung fu, but her ‘Divine Five Poison Palm’ and her ‘Soul Freezing Silver Needles’. In the ‘Five Poison Codex’, it had the types of poison and its concentration, the antidote and its processing technique of the ‘Divine Five Poison Palm’ and ‘Soul Freezing Silver Needles’, if the secrets were leaked it, the ‘Serpent Deity’ would be like a poisonous snake without its fangs. She had long ago memorised the contents of the codex, there was no need to take it with her, and she hid the codex in a secret place in the Scarlet Cloud manor. But she didn’t know that Lu Wu Shuang was especially aware and took down every detail, and knew the hiding place of her master. When she decided to escape, she took the book with her.
Li Mo Chou was furious, she took Hong Ling Bo and chased after her night and day. But Lu Wu Shuang had left long ago, and she kept to the small roads. Li Mo Chou and her disciple went north and then south, she searched east to west, and then she went over the places again several times but still couldn’t find any trace of her.
One night by coincidence the two of them were near Tong Guan, and heard members of the beggar clan spreading news that there was going to be a meet for the members along the western roads. Li Mo Chou considered the fact that there are numerous beggar clan members everywhere, their ears and eyes see and hear everything; there must be someone who has seen Lu Wu Shuang. The two rushed to the meeting place to scout for news. On the way there they saw a fifth band disciple being carried by another beggar clan member, around them were seventeen, eighteen beggar clan members escorting them. Li Mo Chou saw the person had sabre in his back; it was Lu Wu Shuang’s silver sabre. She slipped to the side to listen in, and heard a few angry beggar clan members talking, saying that it was a lame little ***** who did this. Li Mo Chou was delighted when she heard this, she knew that this person was recently wounded so she quickly rushed and scouted around, eventually coming up to the stone house. When she got there, she saw the remains of the fire and smell of fresh blood, under the moonlight she saw drops of blood on the floor, they were new stains. It displayed the signs of a recent battle. Li Mo Chou tugged her disciple’s sleeve and pointed to the house. Hong Ling Bo nodded, she took out her sword and charged in.
When Lu Wu Shuang heard the voices of her master and apprentice sister she knew that she had ran out of luck, she decided to lay there and wait for her death. She heard the sound of the door, a person in yellow dashed in, it was her apprentice sister Hong Ling Bo. Hong Ling Bo had friendly sentiments towards her apprentice sister, she knew that this time her master would use every method that she knows to torture her and then slowly kill her. She saw that Lu Wu Shuang was lying on the table and thrust out at her chest, sparing her the pain. As the sword tip was about to pierce her chest, Li Mo Chou stretched out her hand and patted Hong Ling Bo’s shoulder; her hand lost all her strength immediately and lowered.
Li Mo Chou chuckled, “Do you think I won’t kill her? Why do I need you to rush into it?” She face Lu Wu Shuang and said, “You see your master in front of you and you don’t greet her?” Although she was furious, her tone was normal.
Lu Wu Shuang thought, “Now that I’m in her clutches, even if I beg or plead, I’m going to suffer.” She calmly said, “You and my family have deeps feuds over the years, there is no need to say anything.” Li Mo Chou stared at her, one couldn’t tell if her eyes were filled with joy or hate. There was an expression of pity on Hong Ling Bo’s face. Lu Wu Shuang’s lips curled up, her expression was one of pride.
The three of them stared at each other, after a while Li Mo Chou said, “Where’s the book? Give it to me.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “An evil Taoist and a beggar took it!” Li Mo Chou was startled on the inside. Although she hasn’t done anything to offend the Beggar Clan, she has had run ins with Quan Zhen, she knew that the Beggar Clan and the Quan Zhen sect had a deep history, what’s going to happen now that her book has fallen into outsiders hands? Lu Wu Shuang saw a wry smile on the face of her master and knew that she was thinking up of ideas to torture her. All along on her escape, the only thing she was scared of was that her master was going to catch up with her, now she has, instead of first feeling fear she thought, “Where’s Sha Dan? Where did he go?” She is facing death, when she thought about the ugly and dumb farmer, unwittingly she felt a warm feeling inside her. Suddenly a light from a fire appeared, a rumbling sound was heard.
Li Mo Chou and Hong Ling Bo turned around to see a large bull heading inside, on the bull’s right horn there was a sabre attached to it, on the left horn was a torch, the force that it was approaching with was frightening, Li Mo Chou immediately leapt to the side but saw the bull turn around in the house and rushed out. When the bull first entered it was dashing ferociously, when it left it rushed away with the same speed, in the wink of eye it had travelled tens of feet. Li Mo Chou looked at the image of the bull running away and at first wondered, “Who attached the sabre and torch on the bull’s horn?” She turned around and both her and Hong Ling Bo called out in shock, the body of Lu Wu Shuang that was lying on the table had disappeared.
Hong Ling Bo searched the house and leapt up onto the roof. Li Mo Chou thought that it must have something to do with the bull so she chased after it. In the darkness she saw the light of the torch on the bull’s horn entering the forest. Under the light of the torch she saw that no one was on the bull’s back, Lu Wu Shuang had not escaped on the bull. She then thought, “It must be, someone outside sent the strange bull in to divert my attention and then rescued her.” She didn’t know which direction to chase after, she then sped up and in a flash she had caught up with the bull, she leapt up onto the bull and saw that there wasn’t anything strange so she leapt down again and then kicked the bull in the behind. She whistled and signalled Hong Ling Bo, one was going to scout north to south, the other west to east.

Of course it was Yang Guo who sent the bull into the house. When he heard the voices of Li Mo Chou and her disciple, he slipped out through the backdoor and listened in through the window, after just one sentence he knew that Li Mo Chou had come to take Lu Wu Shuang’s life. He immediately thought of a plan, he went over to the bull and attached the sabre that Lu Wu Shuang had earlier drop to the bull’s horn, he then gathered some twigs and attached it to the other horn and lit them. He then hung below the bull and forced the bull to rush into the house quickly, he grabbed Lu Wu Shuang and hid underneath the bull, exiting the house. His movements were quick and the bull looked weird, Li Mo Chou had good eyesight but was unaware and didn’t notice anything wrong. By the time Li Mo Chou had caught up with bull, Yang Guo had carried Lu Wu Shuang into the long grass and hid. When she moved, she was in severe pain so all the things that had happened; how Yang Guo rescued her, how they hid underneath the bull and how they dived into the grass was all unclear to her, after a while she regained her awareness and called out an ‘ah’ sound. Yang Guo quickly covered her mouth and whispered into her ear, “Don’t make a noise!” They heard footsteps and Hong Ling Bo’s voice saying, “How can someone disappear in the flash of an eye?” Further away Li Mo Chou said, “Let’s go. That little ***** must have gone faraway.” They heard the footsteps of Hong Ling Bo gradually moving away. Lu Wu Shuang was being smothered and was in pain, Yang Guo still held his hand over her mouth without loosening. Lu Wu Shuang struggled for a little, when she felt that she was held in his arms she was embarrassed and anxious, she wanted to hit him.
Yang Guo whispered in her ear, “Don’t move, your master is lying to you.” As soon as his words were said, they heard Li Mo Chou saying, “She really isn’t here.” Her voice was extremely close by, it seemed that they were right next to them.
Lu Wu Shuang was startled and thought, “If it weren’t for Sha Dan, I would be dead!”
Li Mo Chou had suspected that she was hiding nearby, when she was talking faraway, she immediately used her lightness kung fu without making a sound and arrived close by. Lu Wu Shuang almost fell into the trap.
Yang Guo carefully listened, when the two had really gone he removed his hand and laughed, “There’s no need to be scared now.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Let me go.”
Yang Guo lightly placed her flatly onto the grass and said, “I’ll immediately push your bones back into place and them leave this place, if we wait until tomorrow we won’t be able to escape.” Lu Wu Shuang nodded.
Yang Guo was afraid that she would call out in pain when he pushes the bone back into place and alert Li Mo Chou and her disciple. He sealed her numbing pressure points and stretched out his hand to take off her clothes, and said, “Don’t make a noise whatever you do.”
After taking off her outer garment, a white undergarment was revealed, removing this revealed an apricot yellow brassiere. Yang Guo didn’t dare to take it off and looked up, and saw Lu Wu Shuang’s brows wrinkled, her eyes closed tightly, she was embarrassed and scared. Yang Guo had his first awakening of love, when he smelt the fragrant scent of a virgin girl, his heart pounded repeatedly.
Lu Wu Shuang opened her eyes and quietly said, “Just cure me!” After she said this, she closed her eyes again and turned away. Yang Guo’s hand shook as he unbuttoned her underwear, when he saw her breasts, he didn’t dare to touch her chest. Lu Wu Shuang waited a while but felt a cool breeze brushing across her naked chest, she felt cold and turned around opening her eyes, and saw Yang Guo looking at her in a daze, she angrily said, “What…What are you looking at?”
Yang Guo was startled, he stretched out his hand and touched her ribs, when his hand touched her skin he shivered, like as if his hand was touching a fire, he immediately pulled back.
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Quickly close your eyes, if you look at me again I’ll… I’ll…” When she said this, tears flowed down her eyes.
Yang Guo quickly said, “Yes, yes, I won’t look anymore, don’t cry.” He closed his eyes and felt out the broken ribs and pushed them back into place, he quickly covered up her chest with her underwear and calmed down, he gathered four sticks and placed two across the front of her and two behind. He then got some vine and tied the sticks tightly into place so the bones won’t move out of place. He then buttoned up her garments and unsealed her pressure points.
Lu Wu Shuang opened her eyes and saw the moonlight on Yang Guo’s face, his cheeks red, blushing, he was taking a look at her face and their eyes met, he quickly turned away. Her bones were now fixed into place, although they still hurt, it wasn’t as painful as before. She thought, “That Sha Dan does know how to seal pressure points.”
She now can see that Yang Guo wasn’t an ordinary person, he is definitely not a ‘Sha Dan’, but even since she met him she insulted him and looked down on him, now she has seen him save her yet she didn’t change the way she talked to him
She asked, “Sha Dan, what do you think we should do now? Shall we wait here or run away and hide.”
Yang Guo said, “What do you think?”
She replied, “Of course we should run. Are we going to wait here for our death?”
Yang Guo said, “Where?”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “I want to go Jiang Nan. Can you accompany me there?”

Yang Guo said, “I need to find my Gu Gu, I can’t go far.”
When Lu Wu Shuang heard this, her face dropped and said, “Fine, leave! Let me die here.”
If Lu Wu Shuang kindly ask him Yang Guo would of course reject her request, but when he saw her angry face, it reminded him of when Xiao Long Nuu became angry, it was hard for him to reject her and thought, “Maybe Gu Gu headed south, if I escort miss Lu there, maybe good deeds will be repaid, the heavens might pity me and let me see Gu Gu again.” He knew that this was a remote possibility but he had no way to reject Lu Wu Shuang’s request, so he convinced himself and sighed, and then picked her up.
Lu Wu Shuang angrily said, “Why are you picking me up?”
Yang Guo laughed, “I’m carrying you to Jiang Nan.”
Lu Wu Shuang gave a smile and was delighted, she said, “Sha Dan, Jiang Nan is far from here, can you carry me all the way there?” Though she said this, she was leaning on Yang Guo peacefully without moving.
Right now, the large bull had disappeared. Yang Guo was afraid that they might bump into Li Mo Chou and her disciple so he kept to the small paths. Although his legs were quick, his upper body did not move and did not disturb Lu Wu Shuang’s wound. Lu Wu Shuang saw the trees by her recede, he was hurrying along the path like a dashing horse, he was much faster than she could be without carrying anything, his lightness kung fu was not below her master’s, she was curious and thought, “So this Sha Dan is highly skilled, how can he learn to a such a state at such a young age?”
Not long, the east began to lighten, she lifted her head and saw that although his face was dirty, he was handsome, his eyes captivating, her heart was moved, and gradually forgot about the pain, after a while she fell into a deep sleep.
When the sky became bright, Yang Guo felt a little tired, he dashed over to a large tree and placed her gently down, and then rested next to her. Lu Wu Shuang opened her eyes and smiled, she said, “I’m hungry, aren’t you hungry?”
Yang Guo said, “Of course I’m hungry, fine, let’s find a restaurant and get something to eat.” He got up and picked her up again, but because he has carried her for half the night his arms felt numb so he lifted her onto his shoulders and slowly walked.
Lu Wu Shuang’s legs were bouncing off lightly off Yang Guo’s chest, she laughed and said, “Sha Dan, what exactly is your name? If you don’t tell me I’ll call you Sha Dan in front of others.”
Yang Guo said, “I don’t have a name, everyone calls me Sha Dan.”
Lu Wu Shuang hurtfully said, “If you don’t want to say, fine! Who’s your master?”
When Yang Guo heard the word ‘master’, he didn’t dare to mess around because he respected Xiao Long Nuu so much, he turned serious and said, “My master is my Gu Gu.”
Lu Wu Shuang believed him and thought, “So his skill’s are passed on from his family.”
She asked again, “What family or sect is your Gu Gu from?”
Yang Guo dumbly said, “I don’t know whether she is at home or what rank she is.” (N.B Yang Guo is playing on her words, the word for family can also mean home, the word for sect can also mean order.)
Lu Wu Shuang angrily said, “You idiot! I ask you, whose school of martial arts have you learnt?”
Yang Guo said, “Are you asking about my family’s main door? It’s made out of wood.” (N.B Again, play on words)
Lu Wu Shuang heart sank and thought, “Could this person really be a Sha Dan (idiot/fool/retard)? His martial arts are good but he’s dumb?” So she softly said, “Sha Dan, tell me honestly, why did you save my life.”
Yang Guo couldn’t think of a reply, after a while he said, “My Gu Gu told me to save you so I saved you.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Who is your Gu Gu?”
Yang Guo said, “Gu Gu is Gu Gu. Whatever she tells me to do I’ll do it.”
Lu Wu Shuang sighed, and thought, “This person really is dumb.” She had some warm feelings for him but now they turned into loathing.
Yang Guo didn’t hear her say anything so said, “Why aren’t you speaking?”
Lu Wu Shuang gave a grunt. Yang Guo asked again. Lu Wu Shuang angrily said, “If I don’t want to speak, I won’t speak Sha Dan, shut your mouth!”
Yang Guo knew that her face right now was a nice sight, but since she is sitting on his shoulders he wasn’t able to see, he couldn’t help but feel what a pity.
Not long after, they reached a little town. Yang Guo found a restaurant and ordered rice and dishes, and the two sat down together. Lu Wu Shuang smelt the stench of cow shit on him and wrinkled her brows, and said, “Sha Dan, sit over there, don’t sit on my table.”
Yang Guo laughed and sat at another table. Lu Wu Shuang saw that he was still looking at her, she was vexed, the more she looked at him the more loathsome he was, she sunk her face and said, “Don’t look at me.” She pointed at a faraway table and said, “Sit over there.”
Yang Guo gave a laugh and grabbed his bowl and sat at the entrance of the inn, and ate his rice.
Lu Wu Shuang said, “That’s better.”
Although she was hungry, her chest hurt, it was hard to swallow. She felt an urge to take her anger out on Yang Guo but he sat faraway, she wasn’t able to shout at him.
Just as she was feeling troubled some people was outside singing, “Little miss do good deeds.” Another person followed, “Give the beggar a bowl of rice!”
Lu Wu Shuang raised her head and saw four beggars outside lining up all looking at her, she could tell from their eyes that they have come with ill intentions, she was secretly alarmed. She heard the third beggar singing, “The path of heaven is not for you!” The fourth one sang, “Hell has no doors yet you’ve entered through!” The four beggars were singing the ‘Lotus Falling’ begging tune, each one holding a bowl in their right hand and a stick in their left. There were four coarse pockets on their shoulders. Lu Wu Shuang once heard her apprentice sister say that the beggar clan members use the coarse pockets to differentiate between rank within the clan, fourth band members will have four pockets, these beggars were fourth band members. She remembered how she fought beggars Han and Chen yesterday at Wolf Valley, it seems that they had five pockets, it seems they were a level higher than these people in front of her. If she wasn’t injured, she wouldn’t fear the beggars, now she hardly had any strength to pick up chopsticks, how could she fight the enemy? Sha Dan’s lightness kung fu maybe excellent, but he acts mad, even if he knows martial arts it won’t be too high, she couldn’t help but be at a wits end.
Yang Guo was worrying about his stomach, it was as if he hasn’t seen the beggars yet. After he finished his bowl he went over to rice bucket and filled another, he stretched out his hand and picked a fish up from the plates in front of Lu Wu Shuang, the soup and juices of the fish spilled all over the table, he laughed foolishly and said, “Haha, I’m going to eat a fish.”
Lu Wu Shuang creased her brows slightly, she had no time to scold him. She heard the four beggars sing again, singing ‘Little miss’ again. The four beggars repeated this three times, the eight eyes all fixed on her. Lu Wu Shuang didn’t know how to deal with them, she slowly spooned the rice, pretending that she didn’t hear but she was extremely worried inside.
One of the beggars loudly called out, “Little miss, if you won’t spare a bowl of rice, then how about sparing a curved sabre.” Another one said, “Come with us and we won’t make it hard for you. We just want to clear a few things up and come to a fair conclusion.” After a while someone said, “Just quickly go, do you really want us to use force?” Lu Wu Shuang thought that there would be no use whether she replied or kept quiet, she didn’t know what to do. The fourth beggar said, “We won’t use force against you, the heroes of Jiang Hu would laugh at the four of us for bullying a little girl, we just want you to come along and talk.” From their tone, Lu Wu Shuang knew that they were about to attack, she knew that it was hard for her to fight them off, yet she couldn’t wait for defeat. Her left hand held the bench, when the enemy comes up she would use the bench to fight them off.
Yang Guo thought, “Time for me to do my stuff!” He ran over to Lu Wu Shuang’s table and picked up the bowl of soup, his mouth was biting down on the fish, he mumbled, “I’m…I’m going to spill the soup!” The bowl tipped and half the hot soup spilled on the Lu Wu Shuang’s right arm. She was facing east, her arm was slightly inwards, and when the soup came she immediately pulled back and turned around to take a look.
Yang Guo called out, “Ai Ya!” He used his right arm and wiped her arm and leg and at the same time, his left hand waved, four bamboo chopsticks flew out, each one shooting out at the beggars. The four chopsticks were extremely fast, before the beggars could see it their arms were in pain, a crashing sound was heard as four bowls crashed onto the floor. Yang Guo used his garment and wiped Lu Wu Shuang’s sleeve continuously and said, “Don’t…don’t get angry…I’ll…I’ll…I’ll wipe it clean.”
Lu Wu Shuang scolded, “Don’t mess around!” She turned around to look at the beggars and was alarmed. She saw the backs of the beggars going around the street corner and disappearing, the floor filled with the remains of broken bowls.
Lu Wu Shuang questioned, “Those four are strange, why did they leave all of a sudden?” She saw yang Guo’s hands was filled with fish soup and vegetable sauce, and was wiping frantically on the table, she scolded, “Go away, aren’t you embarrassed?”
Yang Guo said, “Yes, yes!” He wiped his hands on his clothes.
Lu Wu Shuang creased her brows and asked, “Why did the four beggars go?”
Yang Guo said, “They saw you were short tempered and didn’t spare anything, there wasn’t any use in begging anymore so they left.”
Lu Wu Shuang pondered for a while and didn’t understand, she took out some money and told Yang Guo to buy a donkey with it, after she paid her bills she got on the donkey. As soon as she got on the donkey, her wound moved and she shouted out in pain.
Yang Guo said, “It’s a pity that I’m dirty and smelly, otherwise I can support you.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Humph, still talking crap.” She pulled on the rope, the donkey was extremely stubborn, it leant against the wall and forced her against the wall. Lu Wu Shuang had no strength in her arms and legs, she called out and fell off the donkey. Her right leg landed on the ground and slowly stood up, her wound was disturbed again and she was in pain, she angrily shouted, “You saw me fall yet you didn’t help me.”
Yang Guo said, “I’m dirty.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Can’t you wash first?” Yang Guo gave a stupid laugh and didn’t say anything.
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Help me get on the donkey.” Yang Guo did as he was told and helped her onto the donkey. As soon as the donkey felt someone on its back it immediately started to buck.
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Quickly lead the donkey.”
Yang Guo said, “No, I’m scared that the donkey is going to kick me. It’ll be better if it was my bull.”
Lu Wu Shuang was exasperated and thought, “He’s not completely stupid. Obviously he wants to hold on to me.” She had no alternative and could only say, “Fine, you can ride on the donkey as well.”
Yang Guo said, “Remember you told me, don’t shout at me for being dirty and smelly.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Yes, why are you wasting time?”
Yang Guo laughed and climbed onto the back of the donkey, his arms gathered around her, he kicked with a bit of strength in his legs, the donkey felt pain and didn’t dare to cause trouble anymore and obediently walked forward.
Yang Guo said, “Which way are we going?”
Lu Wu Shuang had already planned out her route, she wanted to go east through Tong Guan and then through Zhong Zhou and then go south following the main road, but after seeing the four beggars, she knew that she would encounter more beggar clan members along the way so she thought about going along the small paths, go through the bamboo forest and towards Colt Dragon Stockade and then south via Purple Meadow, although this would make the journey longer, it was a lot safer and it would be harder for her master to catch up with her. After pondering for a while she pointed southeast and said, “That way.”
The donkey trotted along slowly, as soon as they left the town, a small child rushed up to them and called out, “Miss Lu, I have something for you.” As she said this she flung a flower to them, and then turned around and ran away. Lu Wu Shuang stretched out her hand and caught it, and saw a letter wrapped around it, she quickly opened the envelope and saw a yellow piece of paper, it read; “Your master will be here shortly, quickly hide!” The yellow paper was coarse but the writing on it was elegant. Lu Wu Shuang gave out a shout and was alarmed, she pondered, “Who is that little kid? How does he know my name is Lu? And how do they know that my master is going to be here shortly?” She asked Yang Guo, “You know that child don’t you? It was your Gu Gu who sent him isn’t it?”
Yang Guo had already read the letter from behind her and thought, “That kid was just a normal country kid, he must have been ordered to send the letter to us by someone. But who wrote the letter? It looks like it has good intentions. If Li Mo Chou really caught up, what should I do?” Although he has learnt the [Jade Heart Manual] and [Nine Ying Manual], and possessed two of the greatest skills in the world of wulin, he has only practised them for a short time, though he understood the essence behind them his internal energy wasn’t deep enough, if Li Mo Chou caught up he would not be a match for her, in broad daylight there wasn’t anywhere to hide. He was pondering but had no idea. When Lu Wu Shuang asked him he replied, “I don’t know that little Sha Dan, it looks like my Gu Gu did not send that kid.”
As soon as he said this, he heard a noise, ahead was a carriage, tens of people were crowding and pushing around, there was a wedding taking place. Although it was the countryside, the event was done with an extravagant air, it was done with such enthusiasm and energy.
A thought suddenly popped up in Yang Guo’s mind, he asked, “Do you want to be a bride?”

Lu Wu Shuang was frightened at this moment in time, when she heard him ask such a stupid question she angrily said, “Sha Dan! What the hell are you talking about?”
Yang Guo laughed and said, “Let’s play bride and groom. Why don’t you pretend to be a bride? Won’t that be beautiful? With a red veil covering your face, when other people talk they can’t see your face.”
Lu Wu Shuang was startled and said, “You’re instructing me to pretend to be a bride to avoid my master?”
Yang Guo laughed and said, “I don’t know, you pretend to be a bride and I’ll be the groom.”
This was an urgent matter, Lu Wu Shuang had no time to scold him, she thought, “Sha Dan’s idea is a strange one, but apart from this idea, there’s nothing else.” She asked, “How should we do it?”
Yang Guo didn’t want to waste time, he lashed the donkey and it hurried forward. The small roads of the countryside were tight and narrow, with eight people carrying the carriage lining up along the road, the two had nowhere to pass. When the people saw the donkey charging forward they all shouted out, telling the riders to rein it in and slow down. Yang Guo squeezed his legs, and urged the donkey to go even faster, in a flash it had come up to the crowd. Two strong men had earlier stepped up wanting to pull the donkey back so that it won’t knock into the carriage. Yang Guo’s whip lashed out and wrapped around the two men’s arms, he raised his arm and let go, the two men fell onto the floor, He turned around to Lu Wu Shuang and said, “I want to be a groom.” He lent forward and stretched out his hand to grab the groom who was riding on a white horse.
The groom was about seventeen, eighteen years of age, he was fitted out in new clothes with gold flowers on his head, and the sudden grab by Yang Guo frightened him. Yang Guo lifted his body and flung him up, his body flew up over a distance of ten feet, when he was about to land, the people all shouted and called out, stretching out their arms to catch him. There were about thirty people who were helping to celebrate, half of them were tall strong men of Guan Xi but when they saw his skills and the groom in his hands, how did they dare to attack? An experienced old man dashed up; thinking it was bandits, he said, “Please spare the groom Da Wang (king/magnate). The amount of money that Da Wang wants, we can discuss it.”
Yang Guo turned around to Lu Wu Shuang and said, “Wifey, why are they calling me Da Wang? My surname is Da? I think he’s even more stupid than me.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Don’t waste time, I think I can hear the bell sound of my master’s donkey.”
Yang Guo was startled, he listened carefully, and indeed he could hear a faint ringing sound. He thought, “She’s quick.” He then said, “Ling Zi (Bell)? What Ling Zi? It’s a sweet seller? Great, let’s buys some sweets to eat.” He turned around to the old man and said, “If you listen to my instructions then I’ll let you go, otherwise” he lifted up the groom and threw him up in the air. The groom was so frightened that he began to cry. The old man made a bow and said, “We’ll do as Da Wang instructs.”
Yang Guo pointed to Lu Wu Shuang and said, “That’s my little wifey, when she saw that someone was getting married she thought that it was amusing, she herself wants to take part too.”
Lu Wu Shuang scolded, “Sha Dan, what did you say?”
Yang Guo ignored her and said, “Quickly take the bride’s clothes and put it on her, I’ll be the groom.”
It’s not unusual for kids to pretend to be a bride and groom. But who would have thought that a bandit on a narrow road would suddenly want to play this game, the people all looked at each other in dismay, and refused. Looking at the two, one was a young man, the other was a young girl, one could describe them as a married couple. But the crowd of people didn’t care. Yang Guo heard the ringing of the bell getting closer so he leapt off the donkey and placed the groom on the saddle letting Lu Wu Shuang guard him and went over to the carriage, he pushed aside the curtain and pulled the bride out. The bride screeched out in fright, her face was covered with a red veil and didn’t know what was happening outside. Yang Guo brushed aside her red veil and saw a face like the moon, a face with joy. He laughed and said, “The bride is beautiful.” He lightly touched her cheek. The bride froze in fright and didn’t make a sound.
Yang Guo’s left hand held up the bride and called out, “If you want me to spare her, quickly take her clothes and give it to my wifey to wear.”
Lu Wu Shuang heard the ringing of her master’s donkey getting closer, she gave him a stare and thought, “That Sha Dan doesn’t know how high the sky is and how deep the earth is, his mouth is still joking at this time?” She heard the old man following his instructions, “Quick, quick! Quickly change the bride’s clothes.” The nanny accompanying the bride quickly took off her phoenix headdress and her bridal costume and dressed Lu Wu Shuang with them. Yang Guo changed himself and took off the groom’s costume. He turned around to Lu Wu Shuang and said, “Good wifey, enter the carriage.” Lu Wu Shuang told the bride to enter the carriage first and then she entered, lowering the curtain afterwards.
Yang Guo took a look at his grass shoes and wanted to change it when he heard the ringing sound from just around the mountain corner, he called out, “Return and head in a southeast direction, quickly! If someone comes and ask about us don’t say you’ve seen us.” He leapt onto the white horse and rode along with the groom on the donkey. When the crowd saw the couple had fallen into their hands, they didn’t dare to disobey; they raised their gongs and cymbals and started their tune.
The carriage picked up and turned around but only after about a hundred feet, the ringing sound was becoming urgent, two donkeys trotted after them. Lu Wu Shuang was thinking about whether she would be able to escape from this danger and suddenly heard the ringing sound; her heart jumped and she carefully listened to the activities of outside.
Yang Guo pretended to be embarrassed and lowered his head looking at the horse’s neck. He heard Hong Ling Bo call out, “Hey, have you seen a lame girl walking past here?”
The old man from the crowd called out, “No…no…”
Hong Ling Bo asked again, “Have you seen a girl on a animal pass by?”
The old man said, “No.” The two passed the crowd and rushed on by. After a short while the two pulled the donkey back and returned. Li Mo Chou’s flywhisk flew out and wrapped around the curtain, she pulled out and after a ‘chi’ sound, the curtain ripped in half. Yang Guo was alarmed and rushed forward, as soon as the flywhisk come out a second time he will make his move and rescue her, but he didn’t know that after one look in the carriage, Li Mo Chou would smile and say, “The bride is handsome.” She raised her head and said to Yang Guo, “Little punk, your luck isn’t bad.”
Yang Guo lowered his head not daring to face her, but heard them trotting away, the two had left.
Yang Guo wondered, “Why did she spare miss Lu?” He opened the carriage only to see the bride scared out of her wits, and Lu Wu Shuang had disappeared. Yang Guo was even more baffled and called out, “Ai Ya, where’s my wifey gone?”
Lu Wu Shuang laughed and said, “I’ve disappeared.” He saw the bride’s dress move and Lu Wu Shuang darted out; she had hid underneath the bride’s gown. She knew that her master was very meticulous and careful, she would examine all possibilities; she knew that her master would come back so she hid.
Yang Guo said, “You can relax and be the bride from now on, sitting in the carriage is much more comfortable than riding on the donkey.”
Lu Wu Shuang nodded and said the bride, “You are suffocating me, quickly get out.” The bride could do nothing and exited the carriage and rode on the donkey that was previously ridden on by Lu Wu Shuang.
The bride and the groom had never met before, the groom saw that the bride was healthy and was attractive, the bride saw the groom and she too was pleased. The two were delighted underneath, and soon forgot that they were being held hostage by a bandit.
They walked on for about twenty miles and the sky gradually became dark. The old man kept on pleading with Yang Guo to let them go in case they missed the wedding’s lucky period.
Yang Guo scolded, “Why are you so annoying?” As soon as he said this, something flashed by the roadside; two people hurried into the forest. Yang Guo was suspicious and chased after them, and indeed he saw the backs of two people, their clothes were old and torn, they looked like beggars. Yang Guo reigned in his horse and thought, “Could the beggar clan have seen through us and has set up a trap ahead? But at this moment in time, all we could do is head forward.”
Not long after, the carriage caught up with him. Lu Wu Shuang poked her head out and asked, “What did you see?”
Yang Guo said, “Your curtain is torn and your face is not covered by the red veil. To be a proper bride one must cry and sob, even if the bride wants to get married, tears should flow and noses should run, calling out for your father and mother not daring to leave. Where can you find such an unabashed bride like you under heaven’s skies?”
Lu Wu Shuang heard his words and understood the meaning behind it, their movements seemed to have been discovered. She lightly called out ‘Sha Dan’ and didn’t say anymore. After a while the mountain path in front of them became steep, narrow and rugged, the people carrying the procession were extremely tired long ago but didn’t say anything in case they incurred Yang Guo’s wrath.
In the wink of the eye the sun was now above the mountain, crows screeched as they flew in the sky. At this time, suddenly voices were heard behind the mountain, they were singing, “Little miss do a good deed, please spare us a silver sabre.”
Lu Wu Shuang’s face turned, and thought, “So the four beggars are hiding around here.”
After the carriage was bought around the corner, three men could be seen in front of them, they were beggars. They were tall and built, they were completely different to the four beggars they previously encountered.
Yang Guo saw that there were five pockets on their shoulders and thought, “These three fifth band beggars must be better than the four others, it looks like I’m going have to use my real skills.”
The crowd carrying the couple had waited impatiently, one of them had taken a whip and lashed out at one of the beggars calling out, “Move out of the way, move out of the way!” The beggar did not move, he held the tip of the whip and pulled, the person holding the whip fell down. If this happened normally the crowd of people would have just rushed up but they have been frightened by Yang Guo previously and all thought, “So the three beggars are with him.” No one dared to move forward and instead took a few steps back.
One of the beggars clearly said, “Congratulations miss, little beggar here just want to beg for some money.”
Lu Wu Shuang quietly said, “Sha Dan, I’m injured at the moment and can’t fight, get rid of them for me.”
Yang Guo said, “Fine.”
He galloped forward on his horse and said, “Today’s is my wife’s special day, she doesn’t want any beggars to spoil it, now move.” One of the beggars took a few looks at Yang Guo but couldn’t recognise him from anywhere. The four beggars who had been struck in the wrist by the chopsticks all thought it was Lu Wu Shuang who did this and so did not tell their martial uncles about Yang Guo.
One of the beggar’s waved out his right hand. Yang Guo’s horse was frightened and leapt up. Yang Guo pretended to wobble and fell off the back of the horse and didn’t pick himself up for a long time. The three beggars all thought, “So that person really is the groom.”
The Beggar Clan is a righteous and chivalrous clan, they have always help the weak against the strong and aid those who are in danger, they have only decided to go after Lu Wu Shuang because she hurt a member of their clan. When they saw Yang Guo falling onto the ground and didn’t know martial arts they all felt apologetic, one of the beggars stretched out their hand to pull him up and said, “Sorry.”
Yang Guo mumbled, “What’s wrong with you lot, if you want to beg for money then beg for money, why are you scaring my horse.” He took out some change and handed it out. The three beggars thanked him according to the clan’s rules.
Yang Guo laughed out and said to Lu Wu Shuang, “You told me to give them change, I’ve already did it.”
Lu Wu Shuang angrily said, “What use is there pretending to be stupid to me?”
Yang Guo said, “Yes, yes!” He stepped to the side and brushed off the dirt off his body.
Lu Wu Shuang saw the three beggars were still blocking the way, she calmly said, “What do you want?”
One of the beggars said, “Miss is a skilled fighter of the Ancient Tomb sect, the three of us admire your skills and want a few pointers.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “I’m carrying a serious wound, how can I fight with you? If you don’t like it, then we can arrange a later date and test out each other skills after my injury has healed. You are skilled fighters of the Beggar Clan, today you are ganging up on a injured young girl, how can you still call yourself a hero!”
After hearing her words, the three beggars felt that they were indeed in the wrong. Two of them said, “Fine! We’ll come back for you after your wound has recovered.”
The other beggar said, “Wait, where exactly are you injured? You have to let me take a look to see whether it’s real or fake. If it is a real wound then I’ll spare you today.”
He didn’t know that she was hurt in the chest, his words had no harmful intentions. But Lu Wu Shuang’s cheek immediately became red, and couldn’t stop herself from being angry. Under this anger she weren’t able to think of anything to say, after half an hour she scolded, “In Jiang Hu the Beggar Clan is known to be heroic and chivalrous, this is a lie, you lot are in fact shameless scoundrels.”
When the three heard her disgrace the Beggar Clan’s name their faces immediately changed, one of them was rash and impatient, he dashed forward, stretching out his hand wanting to grab her out of the carriage.
Yang Guo saw that the situation had become urgent, he called out, “Wait, wait. You lot asked for money, I gave you money, why are you still arguing with my wife?” He dashed forward in front of the carriage and said, “Although you three are beggars now, according to your faces you will became rich and become officials in the future, how can you do such disgraceful things and treat my new wife with such disrespect?”
The three beggars were startled and had no reply. The impulsive beggar said, “Move out of the way, we just want to test out the Ancient Tomb’s kung fu, who’s bullying who?” He lightly pushed out his hand. Yang Guo called out loudly and dropped to the side. The Beggar Clan has a rule, one must not first hit out at someone who doesn’t know martial arts. The beggar didn’t know that this groom was so useless, just a light push and he fell onto the ground, if he was seriously hurt he would be punished within the clan, the other two would not be able to escape punishment as well. The three of them were startled and went over to pick him up.
Yang Guo shouted and called out, “Ai Ya, Ai Ya, mum!” The three beggars could not see clearly if he was hurt or not.
Yang Guo called out in pain and said, “You three are stupid, my wife is shy, how could she speak to strangers? How about this! What do you want to test out? First tell me. I’ll then go and ask my wife and them come back to speak with you, how about that?”
The three of them saw that he was stupid but not stupid, they have had enough of this but it wasn’t convenient to attack him. The oldest of the beggars thought, “That Lu girl is pretending to be a bride, if that young man really is the groom then he shouldn’t help her. But if he is pretending to be a groom then he shouldn’t be so useless.” He carefully studied him but couldn’t find anything wrong.
The impulsive beggar waved out his hand and shouted, “Are you going to move?”
Yang Guo spread out his two hands and loudly said, “You can’t harm my wife.”
Another beggar said, “Miss Lu, you are ordering that Sha Dan to block you, could it be that you think we won’t be able to get to you with this obstruction? Just get it over with and come out here.”
Yang Guo said, “Oh, you know that I’m called Sha Dan, how strange.”
The impulsive beggar faced Lu Wu Shuang and said, “We don’t have to fight, we just want to see how you used your sabre to hack into someone’s shoulder, what is this move called?”
Lu Wu Shuang knew that Yang Guo was trying to annoy them but there wasn’t a result, she was thinking about how to escape when she heard the beggar’s question and replied without thinking, “It’s called [The Mink greets the Moon], what about it?”
Yang Guo interrupted and said, “Correct, once my wife’s sabre comes out with a ‘fu’ sound, it will be in your shoulder.” His right hand extended out and found its way to the beggar’s shoulder. He pushed downwards and the palm of his hand lightly touched the shoulder. When the three beggars saw this move they were all startled, and all thought, “He pretended to be a fake groom all along to trick us.”
Although Yang Guo had not put any strength into his palm, the impulsive beggar who was struck felt embarrassed, and called out, “Fine, you scoundrel, pretending to be dumb, come, let me first test out your skills.”
Yang Guo said, “You said you want to fight with my wife first, why do you want to fight with me now?”
The beggar angrily said, “It’s the same if I fight with you.”
Yang Guo said, “Oh no, I don’t know what to do.” He turned around to Lu Wu Shuang and said, “My darling wife, my little wifey, tell me what should I do to them?”
Lu Wu Shuang was beyond doubt now, she knew that he must be highly skilled, the palm he had just demonstrated was crisp and clean, she couldn’t manage something like that but she didn’t know what his martial arts origins were so she just said, “Do another stance of [The Mink greets the Moon] (diao chan bai yue).”
Yang Guo said, “Fine!” He bent his waist and extended his hand, a clapping sound was heard as he struck down on the beggar’s shoulder again. The three beggars were astonished with that last attack. Yang Guo was definitely facing the other way from them but he didn’t take a step to turn around, all he did was stretch out his hand and the chop came down on his shoulder, that palm technique was extremely strange.
Lu Wu Shuang’s heart shook, “That’s definitely my Ancient Tomb sect’s kung fu, how does he know it?” She then said, “A stance of [The West offers the Heart] (Xi Shi Peng Xin).”
Yang Guo said, “Alright!” His left fist came out, and landed in the opponent’s chest. The beggar who was struck in the chest felt a strong force pushing him forward, he couldn’t stop himself from flying away about a distance of ten feet, he struggled to stay on his feet but the area of his chest where he was struck was not in pain, it was if someone had carried him and placed him further away. The other two beggars dashed up.
Yang Guo called out urgently, “Wifey, I don’t know how to deal with them, teach me.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “[The Illustrious Gentlemen Pushes Out] (zhao jun chu sai), [The Numb Nun Offers Life] (ma gu xian shou).”
Yang Guo’s left hand rose and slanted, the fingers on his right hand stretched out, his form was in the position of strumming an zither, his five fingers flicked out at the beggar on the right, this was [The Illustrious Gentlemen Pushes Out]; he immediately moved across and kicked the beggar on the left, his fists came together and pushed upwards, a clashing sound was heard as his fists struck the opponent’s jaw, he then called out, “This is [The Numb Nun Offers Life], isn’t it?” He didn’t want to hurt anyone so he didn’t put any strength behind his attacks.
The four stances he used were all exquisite stances of the Ancient Tomb’s [Beauty Fist Techniques]. Ever since Lin Chao Ying founded the Ancient Tomb sect, all the arts were passed on to females, never males. Lin Chao Ying’s [Beauty Fist Technique] took the names of famous beauties for the name of its stances, when it is used it is elegant, graceful and enchanting, yet it was deadly at the same time. Yang Guo learnt martial arts from Xiao Long Nuu so of course he learnt this set of fist techniques but he felt although it was a refined set of skills, it’s nature meant that when a man practised it, it wasn’t appealing, when he was practising he inadvertently changed its soft nature into hard and yang, its changes became swift and stylish, though the nature of it was slightly different, the technique of this set of fists remained intact.
The three beggars were all struck by the stances without knowing what happened but because they didn’t feel any pain from the stances, they weren’t in awe of Yang Guo’s skills, they whistled together and attacked all at once. Yang Guo dodged to the east and darted to the west, he called out, “Wifey, it looks like it’s becoming desperately serious, you are going to be a widow today!”
Lu Wu Shuang scoffed and said, “[Heaven’s Grandson Weaves Cotton] (tian sun zhi mian)!”
Yang Guo’s right hand wiped his left, his left pushed the right, his stance resembled a loom weaving cloth, one scatter one push, his hands struck the beggars on the shoulders again.
Lu Wu Shuang called out again, “[The Civil Gentlemen as a Stove] (wen jun dang lu), [The Concubine is Drunk] (gui fei zui jiu)!”
Yang Guo raised his hand like as if he was pouring wine and cut down on the impulsive beggars forehead and caught his body, he twisted him around and flung him out to the right, his shoulder hitting another beggar squarely in the chest. The three beggars were alarmed and angry, the three of them used the kung fu they have obtained throughout their life, yet now they couldn’t even touch the kid’s clothes. The boy looked and his hand waved out, whoever he wanted to hit he struck, although it wasn’t painful when they were hit, it was extremely weird.
Lu Wu Shuang called out three stances in a row, “[Foolish Jade Blows the Flute] (nong yu chui xiao), [The Descending Goddess Encroaches the Wave] (luo shen ling bo), [Enticing Shoot Holding Fist] (gou yi wo quan).” Yang Guo did as he was told. Lu Wu Shuang was in awe, she deliberately gave a hard stance, as Yang Guo was throwing out his fist, she immediately called out, “[Ruling Sky Hangs] (ze tian chui).” According to his form at the moment, it was impossible to use this stance, but because Yang Guo’s internal energy was much higher than the enemy’s, he actually managed this, his body went forward, his palms hanging down. The three beggars saw that his chest was exposed and there was a weakness, they were delighted and dashed forward, but they didn’t know that his internal energy would hold them back and force them to retreat a few steps.
Lu Wu Shuang’s was pleasantly surprised and called out, “[One Laugh Overturns the Country] (yi xiao qing guo)!” This was a stance that she had just invented. A captivating beauty could overturn cities and countries with a smile, but how could this be used to fight with others?
Yang Guo was startled, he immediately laughed out loud, ‘ha’ ‘ha’ ‘ha’ ‘ha’, ‘hei’ ‘hei’ ‘hei’ ‘hei’, ‘hu’ ‘hu’ ‘he’ ‘he’, and circulated the profound internal energy of the [Nine Yin Manual]. Although he hasn’t refined this internal energy to a good level that could be used to fight off skilled fighters, the three band five beggars were just run of the mill fighters, when they heard this strange laugh, they couldn’t stop their heads from shaking and eyes from being dazzled, their body shook a few times and fell down onto the floor. Every person has a moon shaped small object in their ear which controls the balance of the person, if this object is forced to shake, headaches and feeling light headed will be unavoidable, and eventually they won’t be able to stand upright. Yang Guo’s laugh was created by his strong internal energy, everyone’s eardrums were being shaken continuously, it was like the earth and sky was flipping over. Lu Wu Shuang felt faint and urgently grabbed onto the carriage to support herself. Calls of ‘ai ya’ and thudding noises all sounded together, the well wishers of the wedding, the bride and groom all fell onto the floor.
Yang Guo’s laughter stopped, the three beggars got up, their faces grey, they ran away without turning their heads back. The rest of the party rested for half an hour and then carried the carriage, now they treated Yang Guo’s order as words from gods, they didn’t dare to revolt.
At ‘er geng shi fen’ (I assume it’s nine o’clock in the evening) they reached a town and Yang Guo let the people go. The people knew that they would be detained after being captured by this bandit, and would most likely suffer his wrath, how would they know that this bandit really wanted to have a laugh and pretend to be a newly wed, they were all surprised and all thanked and expressed gratitude to Yang Guo. The nanny was much more vocal and said, “Da Wang and his wife would stay together for hundred of years until both of you are old with white hair, you are going to have many little ‘Da Wangs’.” This made Yang Guo laugh out; Lu Wu Shuang was embarrassed and angry with this.

Yang Guo and Lu Wu Shuang found an inn and called for some rice and dishes. They were about to eat when they saw someone enter and after seeing the two of them, they immediately turned around and walked away. Yang Guo saw something was wrong and went over to the entrance and saw two people standing in a pavilion, it was the two Taoists who fought with Lu Wu Shuang at Wolf Valley, Shen Zhi Fan and Ji Qing Xu. The two of them took out their long swords and darted forward.
Yang Guo thought, “Why are you two trying to make trouble with me? Are you looking for pain?”
The two approached but slanted their body and brushed past him, they hurried into the hall and headed for Lu Wu Shuang. At this time, the ringing of a bell was suddenly heard, ‘ding ling’ ‘ding ling’.

By the time the ringing sounds were in their ears, the source had arrived. The two Taoists’ faces changed and glanced at each other, they darted to the first room of the western wing and closed the door, and didn’t come out again.
Yang Guo thought, “Rotten Taoists, you’ve probably tasted Li Mo Chou’s pain before, that’s why you’re acting like this.”
Lu Wu Shuang quietly said, “My master is near, Sha Dan, what do you think we should do?”
Yang Guo said, “What shall we do? Let’s run!” As soon as he stretched out his hand to help her out, the ringing sound had arrived at the entrance of the inn. They heard Li Mo Chou say, “Guard the roof.”
They then heard the waiter say, “Angelic nun, old senior’s room, ai ya, I …” A thudding sound was heard as he landed on the ground, there wasn’t another noise. He didn’t know that Li Mo Chou hated people who mentioned the word ‘old’, what about when someone called her ‘old senior’? The flywhisk was sent out and robbed the old waiter of his life.
She asked another waiter, “There’s a lame girl here, where is she?”
That waiter was already scared out of his wits, he couldn’t reply and just said, “I…I…” Li Mo Chou kicked him away with her left foot, her right foot kicked open the first room of the western wing. She went in and took a look; it was where the Taoists Shen and Ji were staying.
Yang Guo thought, “It’s best if we left by the backdoor, although Hong Ling Bo will see us, it won’t be too much trouble.”
He quietly said, “Wifey, escape with me.”
Lu Wu Shuang looked at him and got up, thinking that if she was able to escape this time then heaven must be looking out for her. As soon as the two got up, a guest from the table in the eastern corner came up to them and quietly said, “I’ll lure the enemy away, quickly think of a way to escape.” That person sat inside in an out of sight place, Lu Wu Shuang and Yang Guo couldn’t see their face. When they were speaking their face was turned away, as soon as they finished what they were saying, they immediately left from the main door, they could only see the person’s back. That person wasn’t tall; they wore a flowing blue green gown. Yang Guo and Lu Wu Shuang looked at each other and then heard the bell ringing, going towards the north.
Hong Ling Bo called out, “Master, someone’s escaping.” A yellow blur came out of the room; Li Mo Chou dashed out of the inn and chased after the escapee.
Lu Wu Shuang quickly said, “Quickly run!”
Yang Guo thought, “Li Mo Chou’s lightness kung fu is extremely quick, she will be able to catch up with that person in just a second, and then she will return here. I won’t be able to go that fast will Miss Lu on my back, we won’t be able to run away.” An idea dawned on him; he dashed into the first room of the western wing. He saw the Taoists Shen and Ji sitting by the bed, their faces’ were still carrying the shock from before. There was no time to delay, Yang Guo didn’t allow for the two to get up and ask questions as he dashed forward and moved his finger, sealing the two’s pressure points, keeping them still. He called out, “Wifey, enter.” Lu Wu Shuang entered the room. Yang Guo closed the doors and said, “Quickly take off your clothes!”
Lu Wu Shuang’s face blushed and hissed, “Sha Dan, what are you saying now?”
Yang Guo said, “It’s up to you whether you want to take off your clothes or not, I’m going to.” He took off his outer garment and put on Shen Zhi Fan’s Taoist gown and hat.
Lu Wu Shuang then understood, and said, “Fine, we’ll pretend to be Taoists to cheat my master.” She stretched out her hand and undid her buttons. Her face turned red and kicked Ji Qing Xu, she said, “Close your eyes you ****ing Taoist!” The two Taoists could not move but still had control of their five senses, they closed their eyes immediately, how would they dare to look at her?
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Sha Dan, turn around, don’t watch me change.”
Yang Guo laughed and said, “What are you scared of, when I helped you fix your bone back into place, haven’t I already seen you?” As soon as he said this he felt that he was impolite and offended her, he couldn’t stop himself from feeling a bit embarrassed. All Yang Guo had to do was to lower his head and move away but he was in a trance, a slap came and he was heavily struck on the left cheek. Lu Wu Shuang thought that she could never have hit him in a million years, she didn’t hold back, she felt apologetic, she laughed and said, “Sha Dan, does it hurt? Who told you to speak such crap?”
Yang Go touched his cheek and laughed, he turned around.
Lu Wu Shuang changed into the Taoist gown and laughed, “Take a look! Don’t I look like a young Taoist?”
Yang Guo said, “I can’t see so I don’t know.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Sha Dan, turn around.”
Yang Guo turned around and saw her Taoist gown was flowing, it showed off her figure even better, he was about to say something when Lu Wu Shuang gave a grunt and pointed to the bed, and saw a Taoist’s head sticking out of the covers, it was the Taoist whose fingers had been cut off by her, Pi Quan Xuan. All along he had been lying on the bed resting, when he saw Lu Wu Shuang enter, he immediately hid his head in the covers. The two of them were preoccupied with changing and didn’t notice him.
Lu Wu Shuang said, “He…he…” She wanted to say ‘he saw me changing’ but couldn’t say the words. At this time, the donkey’s bell was heard. Yang Guo listened out and knew that Li Mo Chou had taken the donkey back, when the guest in blue green rode the donkey, the bell’s ringing was scattered, when Li Mo Chou rode her donkey, though she rode it fast the bell’s ringing was ordered. His mind lit, he picked up Pi Quan Xuan and sealed his pressure point at the same time. He opened the compartment underneath the bed and placed him in there. It’s cold in the north, in the winter nights the bed will be warmed by a fire underneath it, it was now summer, there was no need to light a fire underneath the bed but underneath there was ash and coal, Pi Quan Xuan’s face was covered in grey ash.
The ringing sound of the bell stopped, Li Mo Chou had come back to the inn. Yang Guo said to Lu Wu Shuang, “Sleep in the bed.”
Lu Wu Shuang’s brows raised and said, “A smelly Taoist has slept there, its dirty, how can I sleep on it?”
Yang Guo said, “It’s up to you!” As he said this he stuck Shen Zhi Fan underneath the bed as well and unsealed Ji Qing Xu’s pressure point at the same time. Though Lu Wu Shuang felt that the bed and covers were dirty, she thought about how venomous her master was so she got on to the bed, her face facing the bed. As soon as she slept on the bed, Li Mo Chou kicked open the door and come to search the room for a second time. Yang Guo took a tea cup and lowered his head, drinking tea, his left hand covering the fatal pressure point on the back of Ji Qing Xu’s. Li Mo Chou saw that there were still three Taoists, Ji Qing Xu’s face was grey and was shaking, Li Mo Chou laughed and searched the second room.
When she searched the room for the first time, she had studied the faces of the three Taoists carefully afraid that Lu Wu Shuang had disguised herself as one of them, she didn’t take a closer look the second time.
That night Li Mo Chou and her disciple searched the town’s inns, disturbing everyone. Yang Guo and Lu Wu Shuang lied on the bed with their heads together, he smelt her womanly scent and was happy. Lu Wu Shuang had many thoughts, she felt that Yang Guo was an extremely strange person, if one said he was a ‘Sha Dan’, he was extremely clever, if one said he was intelligent, he would be act mad and crazy. She lied on the bed not daring to move, thinking that Sha Dan would definitely try to hug her, what should she do then? A while passed but there was no movement from Yang Guo, she was actually disappointed. She smelt the manly scent of Yang Guo and was captivated by it, time passed as she slowly fell asleep.
When Yang Guo woke up the sky was bright, he saw Ji Qing Xu in deep sleep across the table, Lu Wu Shuang was quiet, her cheeks were rosy, her lips red slightly apart, he couldn’t stop himself from being moved and thought, “If I lightly kiss her, she won’t know.”
He’s a young man who is experiencing his first awakenings of love (qing dou chu kai – I assume this is talking about puberty), he has never been close to a girl before, right now he was at his most emotional state, he thought about the time when he was fixing her ribs and saw her naked chest, it was even harder for him to resist. Yang Guo moved his head forward, wanting to kiss her on the lips. Before the lips met he smelt a fragrant scent his heart stirred, his blood rushed up, her brows crinkled, she seemed to still feel the pain of her broken ribs in her dreams. When Yang Guo saw her face like this he immediately remembered Xiao Long Nuu and then remembered the oath he swore, “I will only have Gu Gu in my heart in my lifetime, if my heart changes, there will be no need for Gu Gu to kill me, when I see her face I will kill myself.” He broke out in a cold sweat and two slapping sounds were heard, he slapped himself heavily across his cheeks and leapt off the bed.
This woke up Lu Wu Shuang, she opened her eyes and asked, “Sha Dan, what are you doing?”
Yang Guo was feeling embarrassed and guilty, he mumbled, “Nothing, it’s just a mosquito biting my face.”
Lu Wu Shuang remembered how she slept with him last night, her face suddenly turned red, she lowered her head and gently said, “Sha Dan, Sha Dan!” Her voice carried a soft and caring tone.
After a while she raised her head and asked, “Sha Dan, how come you know the Ancient Tomb’s [Beauty Fist Technique]?”
Yang Guo said, “When I dream at night many beautiful woman and minks came and taught me a stance, that’s how I know.”
Lu Wu Shuang gave an ‘humph’ sound, she knew that he won’t answer anything if she asked again, just as she was about to change the subject, she suddenly heard the ringing sound of Li Mo Chou’s donkey. They headed in a northwest direction and then returned. Li Mo Chou thought about how the ‘Five Poison Codex’ was in Lu Wu Shuang’s hands, another day without the book meant another day with danger, she didn’t dare to waste any time, before the sky became bright she rode her donkey and searched around.
Yang Guo said, “When she can’t find us she will leave It’s a pity that you’re hurt and can’t move much, otherwise we would steal a pair of horses and gallop for one day and one night, how would she be able to catch up then?”
Lu Wu Shuang angrily said, “You’re not hurt, why don’t you go and steal a horse and gallop for a day and night?”
Yang Guo thought, “This girl is takes everything to heart, I just said something without thinking and she got angry.” But he wanted to see her angry expression and wanted to anger her further and said, “If it weren’t for you begging me to take you to Jiang Nan, I would have long gone.”
Lu Wu Shuang was furious and said, “Just go, go! Sha Dan, just looking at you makes me angry, just go and die by yourself.”
Yang Guo laughed and said, “Huh, I’ll miss you if you die.” He was afraid that Lu Wu Shuang was going to get angry for real and aggravate her injury so he laughed and exited the room, he found an ink block and returned to the room. He placed the ink block in a water of basin and rubbed it about, and then suddenly he touched Lu Wu Shuang’s face. Lu Wu Shuang wasn’t prepared for this hand coming towards her and touching her face, she scolded, “Rotten Sha Dan, bastard Sha Dan.” She then saw him take out a pile of ash from underneath the bed, he smeared the ash and brushed the water on his face, his face was dirty and unsightly, as if his face was full of pimples and boils.
She then understood, “Although I’ve changed into Taoist clothes my face hasn’t changed, if my master catches up with me, how would she not recognise me?” She then smeared the ink water over her face. Girls naturally love to make themselves as beautiful as possible, although she was smearing ink water, she applied it as if she was applying make up.
The two finished with their disguise. Yang Guo stretched out his leg underneath the bed and unsealed the two Taoist’s pressure points. Lu Wu Shuang saw that Yang Guo didn’t even take a look and after some kicks the two Taoists made a relieved grunt, she was secretly in awe of him and thought, “That Sha Dan’s kung fu is better than mine by ten times.” But she didn’t show any sign of this and instead kept on scolding him, as if she thought nothing of him.
Yang Guo went to the market to look for a cart but the market was too small, there were no carts for rent, he could only buy two horses. That day, Lu Wu Shuang’s injury had lightened; both of them rode on the horse and slowly went southeast.
They rode for a few hours, Yang Guo was afraid that she was tired so he helped her down off the horse and sat on a rock and rested. He remembered how he almost treated Lu Wu Shuang with disrespect, although he felt that treating Lu Wu Shuang with disrespect wasn’t anything serious, he would have done something sorry to his Gu Gu, he was a bastard. He was insulting and cursing himself when Lu Wu Shuang suddenly asked, “Sha Dan, why aren’t you talking to me.”
Yang Guo smiled and didn’t reply. He suddenly thought of something and asked, “Ai ya, crap, I’m so dumb.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “You are dumb!”
Yang Guo said, “When we disguised ourselves, the three Taoists saw us. If they tell your master, won’t that be a disaster?”
Lu Wu Shuang pursed her lips and smiled, then said, “Those three Taoists have rode pass us long ago, my master is still behind us. What’s wrong with you Sha Dan, what were you in a daze about, you didn’t even see them ride pass us.”
Yang Guo gave an ‘ah’ sound and laughed. Lu Wu Shuang felt that his laugh had a hidden meaning behind it, she remembered the words she just said, ‘What’s wrong with you Sha Dan, what were you in a daze about’, she couldn’t stop her face from turning red. At this time, they suddenly heard the neigh of a horse.
Lu Wu Shuang turned around and saw two beggars approaching from around the corner. Yang Guo took a look and saw a head peep out and withdrew back behind the mountain, it was Shen Zhi Fan and Ji Qing Xu. He thought, “So the three Taoists told the Beggar Clan that we’ve dressed up as Taoists.”
He held up his hand and said, “Beggar masters, if you want to ask for food or money, old Taoist here has already given as much as he could today, you’ll have to leave empty handed today.”
One of the beggars had a voice like an overwhelming bell, he said, “Even if you shaved your head and disguised yourselves as a monk or a nun, you won’t be able to get past my eyes and ears. Don’t play dumb anymore, just get it over with and come with us to see the elder and sort this matter out.”
Yang Guo thought, “Those two old beggars have eight pockets on their back, I’m afraid that they might be very skilled.”
The two beggars were eight band members, they saw that the two of them were at most twenty years old yet they managed to defeat four band four members and three band five members, they thought that there must something strange going on here.
Both sides were suspicious of each other. In the northwest the ringing of a gold bell could be heard, ‘ding ling’ ‘ding ling’, it was light and swift, it was pleasant to the ear.
Lu Wu Shuang thought, “Crap, crap. Although I have disguised my face, I had to bump into those two old beggars at this time, once they’ve uncovered my identity, how will I be able to escape from my master? Oh crap, I’m really out of luck this time. There had to be someone with nothing to do with themselves once they’ve been fed, they had to come and find me.”
In a short while, the bell’s ringing became closer. Yang Guo thought, “I won’t be able to beat her, the only thing I can do is to quickly find a path to escape on.” He said, “You two aren’t begging for alms, and you won’t come close, just let us pass.” As he said this he took large steps forward. The two beggars saw that his steps weren’t solid, it seems that he didn’t know any martial arts, each one stretched out their arm and grabbed him.

I did get slightly tired of translating but spcnet being down allowed me to take a break. Will now hopefully speed up and finish book 1 by this weekend, get upto/finish chapter 13 by next weekend. Glad there's people enjoying it. Hope the jokes that Yang Guo made it intact through the translation.

About the ROCH 83 VCD's. Well the original series had 40 episodes, not quite sure. But they didn't made it so that one chapter equal one episode, tvb followed it in their own way. There are only 24 VCDs because the VCD cannot hold that much information compared to say DVD's. Scenes had to be cut to fit it onto 24 VCDs (TVB being cheap). Could anyone tell us which parts were cut? Also in the original series, during the break sequence with GLFW and YG, XLN fighting in the forest, was that actually in the series cos i can't recall it. Almost bought ROCH83 the other week but they had to order it first so i said forget that.

I noticed that in the last translation Lu Wu Shuang and Li Mo Chou were interchanged a few times. Was this a typo in the original text?

e.g.
Li Mo Chou quietly said, “My master is near, Sha Dan, what do you think we should do?”

Li Mo Chou thought, “Crap, crap. Although I have disguised my face, I had to bump into those two old beggars at this time, once they’ve uncovered my identity, how will I be able to escape from my master? Oh crap, I’m really out of luck this time. There had to be someone with nothing to do with themselves once they’ve been fed, they had to come and find me.”

HK47: Now do you understand the travails of my existence master? Surely it does not compare to your existence but still...
You: I survive somehow
HK47: As do I. It is our lot in life I suppose master. Shall we find something to kill to cheer ourselves up?

I won't recommend getting the vcd b/c a lot have lost from editing. TVB learned the lesson and did better with later re-releases.

The first half was pretty good. Not many were cut except many subsong scenes, especially the scene where Lu Wushang recited the love poem followed with a song.

But toward the Loveless Valley, scenes were cut so heavily. At the loveless valley, Gongsun lu-er overheard YG talking w/ XLN then with Lu and Chenying, then heard her father consulting with Li Moshou on how to steal the antidote for her, she then decided to poison herself with love flowers to trick her mother to bring out antidote - all these scenes are not in the vcd.

Also the classic scene where HR pretended to be mad to rescue her baby from KCS was cut.

The ending of the gongsun couple was cut.

The reminisce spooky scene using the voice of Barbara's HR at the temple was cut.

The conversation between Lu Wushang and Chenying about YG after he jumbed down the cliff was cut which was a pity.

Yang Guo chopped out his right hand and clashed with the two palms, the three palms pulled back and each one took three steps back. The two eight band Beggar Clan members have practised martial arts for tens of years, their internal energy was profound, in the world of Jiang Hu there were few who could match them, in terms of kung fu foundation they were ahead of Yang Guo but when it comes to the mastery and exquisite stances, they weren’t a match for Yang Guo. Yang Guo borrowed strength to use strength and dispersed the two’s palms but if he wanted to dash pass them, it would be impossible. The three of them were secretly startled. At this time Li Mo Chou and her disciple had arrived at the scene.
Hong Ling Bo called out, “Hey, Beggar, Taoist, have you seen a limp girl pass by here?”
The two beggars had a high status in the world of wulin, when they heard Hong Ling Bo question them like this they became angry but the Beggar Clan had strict rules, the members mustn’t get into feuds with others as they pleased so the two just replied, “No!”
Li Mo Chou’s eyes were sharp and saw the back of Lu Wu Shuang, she was suspicious and thought, “I think I’ve seen them two before?” She saw three four facing each other, their weapons braced as if they were about to fight, she thought she should stand by the side and see what happens.
Yang Guo glanced over and saw that she had a wry smile on her face, standing by watching the battle, he had a thought, “I’ve got it, if I do this I’ll erase her suspicions.” He turned around and went over to Hong Ling Bo to ask her something, he disguised his voice and said, “Greetings Taoist friend.” Hong Ling Bo returned the greeting.
He said, “Taoist here was just passing by when these two evil beggars started to cause trouble, wanting to fight me. Taoist here has not got any weapons, I hope you borrow me a weapon on respect of Lao Jun.” As he said this he made another bow.
Hong Ling Bo saw that his face was black and ugly, but his was respectful and modest, he referred to the Taoist’s Tai Shang Lao Jun, it didn’t seem right to reject his request so she held up her sword and glanced at her master. She saw that she was nodding her head and so handed the sword to him. Yang Guo bowed as he received the long sword, the tip pointing to the ground, he said, “If Taoist here can’t fight off the enemy, I hope that Taoist friend here will look upon the fact that we are people of religion and assist me.”
Hong Ling Bo raised her brows and gave an ‘humph’ sound without replying.
Yang Guo turned around and loudly said to Lu Wu Shuang, “Apprentice brother, sit by the side and watch, don’t move I’m going to teach the Beggar Clan beggars the skills of our Quan Zhen sect.”
Li Mo Chou shivered, “So the two Taoists are from the Quan Zhen sect. But Quan Zhen sect and the Beggar Clan have always been good friends, why are they arguing?”
Yang Guo was afraid that the two beggars would speak and reveal who Lu Wu Shuang was so he raised his sword and dashed forward, calling out, “Come, come, come, I’ll fight two by myself.”
But Lu Wu Shuang was concerned, “Sha Dan doesn’t know that my master has fought Quan Zhen sect on many occasions, how would she not be able to recognise the stances of the Quan Zhen sect? There are many Taoist sects in the world, Zheng Yi, Da Dao, Tai Yi, they are all good choices for our cover why the hell did he pick Quan Zhen?”
The two beggars heard him say ‘From the Quan Zhen sect’ and were alarmed, the both called out, “Are you really from Quan Zhen sect? You and…”
Yang Guo didn’t allow them to mention Lu Wu Shuang and thrust his sword forward, separately attacking the stomachs of the two; it was Quan Zhen’s [Di Chuan] sword skills. The two beggars status were high, they could gang up and fight a yung boy like him but Yang Guo’s stance came out extremely quick, they had to attack together with their sticks. As the metal rods were raised, Yang Guo’s sword darted through the gap and aimed for their chests. The two Taoists could never have predicted that his sword skills were extremely quick; they quickly retreated. Yang Guo didn’t hold back, he kept on applying the pressure, in a flash he had unleashed eighteen swords, every stance had two intentions, when the sword comes out it was one stance, but within it was artifice, the sword stance separated into two. This was Quan Zhen’s [One Sword into Three Distinctions] (yi jian hua san qing) technique; every stance can be made into three. Every stance that Yang Guo threw out, the beggars moved back three steps, after the eighteen stances had been unleashed, the beggars had not even attacked back once, they retreated back a total of fifty-four steps. The kung fu of the [Jade Heart Manual] was designed to counter Quan Zhen’s kung fu, before Yang Guo practised the [Jade Heart Manual] he practised the kung fu of the Quan Zhen sect. But because he had not practised enough and it weren’t refined enough, he wasn’t able to do [One Sword into Three Distinctions], but he was good enough to turn it into two distinctions.
Li Mo Chou saw that the young Taoist’s sword skills were refined, she couldn’t help from being shocked and thought, “No wonder Quan Zhen’s name is so famous, there are able people from the sect, in ten years time how will I be able to beat him? It looks the mantel of the Quan Zhen sect is going to fall into his hands in the future.”
If she fought with Yang Guo, she would know that although the stances were real on the outside, underneath it was the Ancient Tomb’s kung fu, but from it’s appearance, it was hard to distinguish between the two. Yang Guo has learnt the Quan Zhen song from Zhao Zhi Jing, and practised it after, and so his Quan Zhen kung fu weren’t completely a fake. Lu Wu Shuang and Hong Ling Bo looked on, dazzled.
Yang Guo thought, “If I slow down and allow the two beggars to talk, we’ll be finished.” Once the eighteen stances had passed, the long sword quickly turned around and attacked the two beggars back, another set of two distinctions. The two beggars quickly turned around to attack. Yang Guo didn’t allow the metal rods and the sword to collide, he quickly darted behind the two’s backs. The beggars turned around, Yang Guo darted behind the beggars again. He knew that if it came to a real kung fu contest, he would not be able to handle one beggar let alone two, he utilized his lightness kung fu and circled around the two beggars. In the Quan Zhen sect, as soon as one has refined their kung fu to a high level, they will practise lightness kung fu so later on they will be able to use it when practising the [Big Dipper Formation]. Although Yang Guo is now using the steps of Quan Zhen’s kung fu, but his breathing and circulation are from the formulae of the [Jade Heart Manual]. The Ancient Tomb’s lightness kung fu was second to none in the world, as soon as he used it, the two skilled Beggar Clan fighters were not able to catch up, they saw him moving like lightning, a white blur, the sword piercing forwards. If he wanted to kill them, even if twenty beggars were here he would be able to kill them. The two beggars quickly turned around and waved their rods for defence, right now they weren’t able to defend against the incoming stances, they used all their strength in defence and hoped that heaven was on their side. They ran around like this for around ten loops, the two beggars were dizzy and dazed, their feet rapid, they felt that they were about to faint.
Li Mo Chou chuckled and said, “Hey, my Beggar Clan friends, I’ll teach you a method, stand back to back so you won’t have to keep on turning around.” With this pointer, the two beggars were filled with joy, there were about to follow this method when Yang Guo thought, “Crap! If this happen I’m going to lose.” He stopped circling them, two stances in one, as the sword was thrust forwards aiming for their backs. The two beggars heard the wind sound from the sword, they weren’t able to use their rods to block it so advanced forward. As soon as they took a step the stance arrived, they were shocked and quickly hurried out of the way. How could they have predicted though that Yang Guo’s sword was like a shadow, no matter how fast they ran away, they sword remained behind their backs. The two’s steps slowed, their backs were pierced by the sword. The two beggars knew that Yang Guo didn’t want to kill them, otherwise all he had to do was just add an ounce of strength and the sword would have moved an inch further, wouldn’t the sword have gone through their chests? But they still didn’t dare to slow their steps. The three used their energy and in a flash they had moved over two miles, leaving Li Mo Chou and the others behind. Yang Guo suddenly sped up and dashed in front of the two. He laughed and said, “Walk slowly, be careful of tripping!” The two threw out their rods at the same time. Yang Guo stretched out his left hand and held onto one of the rods, at the same time he extended the flat side of his sword and hit the metal rod to the left. His left palm opened and held the two rods. The two beggars felt something was wrong and quickly distributed their chi. Yang Guo’s internal energy wasn’t a match for theirs, he didn’t dare to try and match them, and swept the long sword across. If the two beggars didn’t let go, their eight fingers would be slashed off immediately, they could only let go and jump back, their faces carried an embarrassed expression. Not being able win and using such a way to escape may have been gone too far.
Yang Guo said, “My sect and your clan have always been friends, please don’t believe what others say my friends. Every event has their source, the Ancient Tomb’s ‘Serpent Deity’ Li Mo Chou is over there, why aren’t you question her?”
The two beggars did not know Li Mo Chou but knew that she was ruthless and vindictive, when they heard Yang Guo say this they both shivered and said at the same time, “Is this true?”
Yang Guo said, “Why should I lie? That witch forced Taoist here until I had nowhere else to run, that’s why I had to fight with you two.” As he said this, he raised the metal rods and politely gave it back to the beggars. He said, “It is well known what objects the ‘Serpent Deity’ always carry by her side, haven’t you two heard about this?”
One of the beggars understood and said, “Yes, she holds a flywhisk, her donkey has a golden bell. The woman in yellow is she?”
Yang Guo smiled and said, “Correct, correct. The girl who used the silver sabre to hurt your clan member is her disciple.” He then made his voice slightly deeper and said, “I’m afraid that it’s ominous, it ominous.”
The beggar with the voice like an overwhelming bell was impatient and asked, “What are you afraid of?”
Yang Guo said, “Ominous, ominous.”
The beggar urgently asked, “What’s ominous?”
Yang Guo replied, “Li Mo Chou is notorious in wulin, everyone is afraid of her. Your clan may be powerful but no one is her match. Since it was a disciple of hers who injured one of your members, it would be best to leave it.”
He angered that beggar; the beggar raised his metal rod and said, “Huh, I don’t care if she’s the ‘Serpent Deity’ or ‘Lizard Deity’, I must fight her today.” As he said this he headed back towards the path. The other beggar was more cautious, thinking how they could not overcome a young man, if they incurred the wrath of the ‘Serpent Deity’, aren’t they signing their death wish? He held the other beggar’s arm and said, “There’s no need to rush, let’s go back and plan this first.” He made a salute to Yang Guo with one hand and said, “Please can we have the pleasure of knowing your name.”
Yang Guo smiled and said, “My surname is Sa, first names Hua Zi. Hope we’ll meet again.” He made a bow and turned around hurrying back to the others.
The two beggars mumbled, “Sa Hua Zi, Sa Hua Zi? I have never heard of this name, this person’s skills are excellent at such a young age…” One of the beggars suddenly leapt up and cursed, “Scoundrel, animal!”
The other beggar asked, “What?”
The beggar replied, “He’s called Sa Hua Zi, it means kill beggars (Kill a beggar has the same Ping Ying as Sa Hua Zi), we’ve been insulted without knowing.” Though the two cursed, they didn’t dare to return to finish this matter with him.”
Yang Guo laughed on the inside, he quickly returned and saw Lu Wu Shuang on top of the horse looking to the side, revealing how anxious she was. As soon as she saw Yang Guo her spirits immediately raised, she quickly met him on the horse and quietly said, “Sha Dan, you’re great, leaving me behind.”
Yang Guo smiled and offered the long sword back to Hong Ling Bo with the handle end facing towards her. He bowed and said, “Thank you for the sword.” Hong Ling Bo stretched out her hand to receive it.
Yang Guo was about to turn around when Li Mo Chou suddenly said, “Wait.” She saw that the young Taoist was skilled; she thought that if she let him go now he will become a problem in the future, while his kung fu was still lower than hers, she would get rid of the potential problem now.
As soon as Yang Guo heard the word ‘wait’ he knew something was wrong, he lowered the sword a few inches into Hong Ling Bo’s hand and immediately took his hand away. Hong Ling Bo could only take the handle of the sword and smiled, she said, “Young Taoist has some fierce skills.”
Li Mo Chou originally wanted to anger him into attacking and kill him in one stroke with her flywhisk, but now he did not have a weapon, she was of a high status and so could not use her weapon to harm him so she flung her flywhisk to one side and asked, “Which of the Quan Zhen seven masters is your master?”
Yang Guo smiled and said, “I’m Wong Chong Yang’s disciple.” He had no good feelings towards the Quan Zhen sect, he had no respect for them, though Qiu Chu Ji treated him fairly well, he was only with him for a short while and before he left he strictly scolded him, he knew he didn’t meant any harm but in his heart he was still angry. When he remembers Hao Da Tong and Zhao Zhi Jing, he became even angrier. In the Ancient Tomb he had practised the important aspects of the [Nine Yin Manual] left by Wong Chong Yang, so technically he could say that he was his disciple. But according to his age, he could only be the disciple of Taoists in Zhao Zhi Jing’s and Yin Zhi Ping’s generation, when Li Mo Chou saw that his skills weren’t weak and ask him, which one of the Quan Zhen seven masters was his master, it was holding him in a lofty light. If Yang Guo replied Qiu Chu Ji or one of the others, Li Mo Chou would have believed him. But he didn’t want be a generation lower to the Taoist who killed grandma Sun, Hao Da Tong, so he said Wong Chong Yang. Wong Chong Yang was the person who founded the Quan Zhen sect, in his life he had only taken in seven disciples, everyone knew this in the wulin world, when this young Taoist was born Wong Chong Yang had left the world long ago.
Li Mo Chou thought, “This ugly freak doesn’t know how high the sky is and how deep the earth is, and he doesn’t know who I am, how dare he talk such nonsense in front of me.” She then thought, “How could Quan Zhen Taoists use their founder for a joke? And how could they dare to say the words ‘Wong Chong Yang’? But if he isn’t a disciple of Quan Zhen, then how come each of his stances are from Quan Zhen?”
Yang Guo saw that although she had a smile on her face, her brows were creased, she was in deep thought. He thought about the day where he pretended to be a farmer to trick Hong Ling Bo and in the tomb they had exchanged blows, he couldn’t let them find out who he really was through his words so without delay he carried on, he raised his hands in respect. He turned around and leapt onto the horse, and was about to gallop away.
Li Mo Chou floated over in front of his horse and said, “Come down, I have something to say to you.”
Yang Guo said, “I know what you want to ask me. You want to ask me have I seen a pretty girl, who is lame in her left foot, isn’t it? And where has she taken your book?”
Li Mo Chou was shocked and calmly said, “Yes, you are clever. Where is the book?”
Yang Guo said, “Just now, my apprentice brother and I were resting by the side, we saw that girl fighting with three beggars. One of the beggars suffered a slash from the girl but the other two beggars came up, she wasn’t a match for them, and eventually was held captive by them.”
Li Mo Chou was always calm no matter what, but when she thought about how Lu Wu Shuang was caught by the beggars, her ‘Five Poison Codex’ would fall into their hands, she couldn’t stop herself from showing a sign of being alarmed.
Yang Guo saw that the lie worked and continued, “One of the beggars fished out a book from the girl’s pockets, she wouldn’t give it to them and suffered disrespect from him.”
Lu Wu Shuang glanced at him and thought, “Fine Sha Dan, talking rubbish about me, you think I won’t do anything to you?”
Yang Guo that she was frightened but deliberately asked her, “Apprentice brother, doesn’t it get people mad? That girl was touched all over the place by the beggars and suffered great insults, didn’t she?”
Lu Wu Shuang hung her head down and gave a grunt. As he said this, there were the sounds of horse hoofs around the hill, a crowd of horses and people came up, it was a group of Mongolian soldiers. Once the Jin’s were overthrown, everything north of the Mie River was under the control of the Mongolians. Li Mo Chou didn’t care about the soldiers, but she was in a rush to find out the whereabouts of Lu Wu Shuang and didn’t want anything to delay her so she stood by the side watching the ground shaking as over a hundred Mongolian soldiers were escorting an official. The Mongolian official wore a bright garment, a bow hung from his waist, his horse riding technique was excellent, he exuded an air of calmness as he rode across. Once the soldiers passed, Li Mo Chou wiped the dust away from her body using her flywhisk. Every time the flywhisk waved, Lu Wu Shuang’s heart missed a beat, she knew if the flywhisk was waved at her and not the dust, her head would have split open immediately.
After she finished cleaning herself up she asked, “And then?”
Yang Guo said, “The beggars took the girl and headed north. Young Taoist here couldn’t stand by and tried to interfere, and two of the beggars stayed behind to fight with me.”
Li Mo Chou nodded her head and smiled, she said, “Great, thank you. My name is Li Mo Chou, people in Jiang Hu call me the ‘Serpent Deity’, and some call me the ‘Serpent Demon’. Have you heard my name before?”
Yang Guo shook his head and said, “I have never heard of you. Miss, with your beauty you are like a deity, how can you be a demon?”
Li Mo Chou was thirty, but she had profound internal strength, her skin was soft and tender, her face had no wrinkles, one could mistake her for a twenty year old. She had always regarded herself as beautiful, when she heard him praising her like that she was pleased, she fluttered her flywhisk and said, “You joked with me. Saying that you are the disciple of Wong Chong Yang, I should make you suffer and then kill you. Since you’ve said this, I’m going to teach you a lesson with my flywhisk.”
Yang Guo shook his head and said, “That won’t do, that won’t do, young Taoist here cannot fight with someone in a lower generation than he is.”
Li Mo Chou said, “You are about to die and you still joke. How am I in a lower generation than you?”
Yang Guo said, “My master is elder Chong Yang, he is in the same generation as your ancestor, how am I not in an older generation than you? You are just a pretty young girl, old man can’t bully you.”
Li Mo Chou gave a wry smile and said to Hong Ling Bo, “Let him borrow the sword again.”
Yang Guo waved his hand and said, “That won’t do, that won’t do, I…” Before he finished his words Hong Ling Bo pulled out the sword from its sheath, a ‘ting’ sound was heard, her hand holding only the handle, the blade remained in the sheath. She was startled but then understood, when Yang Guo returned the sword he had done something to the sword, he broke the sword but kept the handle intact, as soon as someone apply some force to the sword, it immediately broke. Li Mo Chou’s face changed colour.
Yang Guo said, “Originally I didn’t want to fight pretty girls who are beneath me, but since you are forcing me to fight, then I’ll let it be. I’ll face three stances of your flywhisk empty handed. Let’s make it clear first, as long as you can receive my three stances then I’ll let you go, but once the three stances are over, you can’t trouble me anymore.” In this present situation he knew that he must use force otherwise he won’t be able to get out of this situation, but if they really fought, he won’t be a match for her. So he acted like a senior and made her promise that she will only use three stances and not anymore. He was not her match anyway so it didn’t matter if he had a weapon or not, hopefully she will not use her most lethal flywhisk stances.
How could Li Mo Chou not understand his intentions, she thought, “You think you can receive three of my stances?” She said, “Fine, senior, let junior here experience your skills.”
Yang Guo said, “You’re too kind” but suddenly he saw a yellow blur, everywhere were traces of the flywhisk. This stance of Li Mo Chou is called [No Holes that can’t be Penetrated] (wu kong bu ru), attacking the enemy’s bones all over their body, although this is one stance, the threads were all over the place, in one stance it included tens of stances, attacking all the body’s main pressure points. She had seen him fight with the beggars and saw that his sword skills were refined, he wasn’t a weak opponent, hurting him in three stances was not going to be easy so she used her the technique that she was most proud about, [Three Without Three Without Hands] (san wu san bu shou). She invented these three stances; even Xiao Long Nuu has never seen these stances before. When Yang Guo saw this he jumped in shock. There was actually no defence to this stance, moving to the left and right would result in one’s pressure points to be sealed, moving forward would result in the pressure points on the back being harmed, only fighters who were much more skilful than her can force her back by attacking her front ruthlessly and force her to use her flywhisk to defend. Yang Guo did not have this ability, in this urgent situation he flipped around, his head below his legs, he used the skill that Ou Yang Feng taught him, [Reversal of the Veins], his pressure points were all closed, he just felt all his pressure points ache a little and then nothing more. He quickly flipped over and gave out a flying kick. Li Mo Chou had seen that she had strike many of his pressure points but he still had the ability to counter attack, she was shocked and followed with a stance of [Penetrate Everywhere] (wu suo bu zhi). This stance attacked all the pressure points on his sides. Yang Guo’s head was propped up against the ground, he stretched out his left hand to seal her right knee’s ‘Central’ pressure point. Li Mo Chou was even more shocked and leapt away, the [Three Without Three Without Hand] techniques third stance [Stop At Nothing] was immediately used.
This stance does not aim to seal pressure points, instead it attacked the eyes, throat, stomach, the groin and all the places that are soft and delicate, that’s why its called [Stop At Nothing], it was ruthless and showed no respect towards the opponent. When she refined this skill she did not know that there were people who knew how to fight upside down, when she rushed out this stance, she used it as she normally would, but know where the attack hit the eyes, it struck the leg, where it attacked the throat it struck the lower thigh, where it attacked the stomach it struck the upper thigh, where it attacked the groin it struck the chest, it aimed for the soft points but struck the hard, the stance was not effective at all.
This shocked Li Mo Chou to the extreme, she has seen many battles in her life, she has met those who were better fighters than her so she know what the enemy would do, how they attacked, defended, dodge, she knew it all, but she couldn’t have predicted this young Taoist had such unimaginable kung fu, as she stood there in a daze, Yang Guo opened his mouth and bit down on the flywhisk, he flipped his body and stood up. Li Mo Chou’s hand shook; her flywhisk was taken away.
At the second mount Wah competition, Ou Yang Feng reversed his veins and bit down on Huang Yao Shi’s finger. When one reverse their veins, chi is distributed through their lips, the mouth will open and close, an intent to bit someone is automatically created. In the body, nothing can compare with the strength of teeth biting down, the teeth can shatter and tear things that hands can’t. Because of this, although Yang Guo’s internal strength was weaker than Li Mo Chou’s but once his teeth bit down on the flywhisk, he was able to pull it from her hands.
This move shocked Lu Wu Shuang and Hong Ling Bo, both of them called out in surprise at the same time, Li Mo Chou was also shocked but she didn’t show any fear, her palms lightly came out, she was using her [Diving Serpent Palm] and jumping forward to snatch back her flywhisk. She was about to hit out with her palms when she suddenly called out, “What, it’s you! Where’s your master?”
Yang Guo’s face had been covered in dirt but after a series of quick flips, some of the dirt was brushed off, revealing half of his face. At the same time Hong Ling Bo recognised Lu Wu Shuang and called out, “Master, it’s apprentice sister.” Before Lu Wu Shuang had dared not to face Li Mo Chou and Hong Ling Bo, when Yang Guo and Li Mo Chou was fighting, she was concentrating on watching the fight and forgot about hiding her face from Hong Ling Bo.
Yang Guo’s left foot touched the ground lightly and flew onto Li Mo Chou’s donkey, at the same time his left hand flicked out, a ‘Jade Bee Needle’ was shot out at the head of Hong Ling Bo’s donkey. Li Mo Chou was furious and flew over to Yang Guo flew away from the saddle and flipped the flywhisk around, a ‘pu’ sound was heard as he struck the donkey on the head and called out, “Wifey, quickly take your husband away.” His body leapt on the back of the horse and he waved the flywhisk madly behind him. Lu Wu Shuang immediately spurred the horse on. Once Li Mo Chou utilizes her lightness kung fu, she could chase up to four legged animals that are within a mile or two. But after being shocked by Yang Guo’s strange stances she didn’t dare to chase too closely, she just used her trapping hand kung fu to snatch back her flywhisk, on her fourth stance three of her fingers on her left hand managed to grab hold of the threads of the flywhisk, she turned her hand and pulled. Yang Guo couldn’t hold on and the flywhisk flew out of his hand.
Hong Ling Bo’s donkey had been struck with the ‘Jade Bee Needle’, it suddenly went mad, it rushed up to Li Mo Chou and started to bite.
Li Mo Chou shouted, “Ling Bo, what are you doing.”
Hong Ling Bo said, “The donkey is resisting.” She pulled the reign with her strength causing the donkey to have a mouthful of blood. Suddenly the donkey’s legs became soft and fell over, Hong Ling Bo leapt up and called out, “Master, let’s chase after them!” But by then Yang Guo and Lu Wu Shuang were half a mile away, they weren’t able to catch up.
Lu Wu Shuang and Yang Guo rode hurriedly for a while, she turned around and didn’t see her master chasing after them and said, “Sha Dan, my chest really hurts, I can’t stand it anymore!”
Yang Guo leapt off the horse and placed his ear against the ground, there weren’t any sound of footsteps behind and he said, “There’s no need to be scared, let’s go slowly.” The two then carried on normally.
Lu Wu Shuang sighed and said, “Sha Dan, how did you manage to take my master’s flywhisk?”
Yang Guo said, “I threw out some words of praise which pleased her and so she gave the flywhisk to me. Old man didn’t feel right taking young girl’s things so I gave it back to her.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Huh, why was she pleased, she thought you was handsome?” As she said this she blushed.
Yang Guo laughed and said, “She saw that I was an interesting fool, that’s why.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Crap! What’s so interesting about you?”
The two travelled slowly for a while but they were afraid that Li Mo Chou would catch up so they rode fast. They did this slowing down and speeding up until it was dusk.
Yang Guo said, “Wifey, if you want to save your little life, you’ll have to endure the pain in your chest and ride throughout the night.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “If you talk crap again, watch if I continue to pay attention to you.”
Yang Guo stuck out his tongue and said, “It’s a pity that our horse is tired, another night of riding and we could escape.”
It was now getting dark but suddenly, the sound of horses could be heard ahead, Yang Guo was delighted and said, “Let’s change horses.”
The two hurried on for about a mile and saw over a hundred horses outside a village, it was the group of Mongolian soldiers that they had seen earlier on. Yang Guo said, “Wait here, I’ll go and take a look.” He leapt down from the horse and headed towards the village. He saw a light coming from a window of a large house. Yang Guo darted forward and looked inside, he saw a Mongolian official sitting in the room with his back facing the window.
Yang Guo’s mind suddenly lit up, “If we’re going to change horses why not change people.” He waited for a while and saw the Mongolian official stand up, walking up and down across the room. That man was about thirty years old, it was the official in bright clothing he had seen earlier in the day, he had an air about him, it appeared that his post wasn’t low. Yang Guo waited until he turned his back and quietly opened the window and slipped in. The official heard a wind sound behind him, he took a step forward and raised his left hand for protection and turned around, his ten fingers like an eagle’s claws came out ferociously, it was the lethal technique of the [Vigorous Eagle Claw Stance]. Yang Guo was slightly surprised by this, he didn’t know that a Mongolian official would know some kung fu, he slanted his body and dodged past his hands. The official clawed out many times but each time they were calmly dodged. That official had been under the tutelage of the Eagle Claw sect when he was younger, his kung fu was quite good, but after exchanging many stances with Yang Guo, he had no way of using his moves. Yang Guo saw that his hands were coming in ferociously once again, he suddenly leapt up, his left hand grabbed the man’s left should, his right hand grabbed the man’s right, he circulated his chi through his arms and shouted, “Sit down!” The official’s knees became soft and sat down on the ground, he felt his chest being smothered, it seemed like a surge of blood was rushing up. Yang Guo stretched out his hand and rubbed his pressure points on his chest, the official immediately felt his chest loosened, a breath of air was released and he slowly got up. He stared at Yang Guo, startled, after half an hour he asked, “Who are you? Why are you here?” Those two phrases in Han were spoken quite clearly.
Yang Guo laughed and asked him some questions instead, “What is your name? What post do you hold?” The official’s eyes lit up in anger, he was about to jump out at him again. Yang Guo ignored him and sat down on the seat that the official had previously sat down on. The official’s arms came out waving up and down, attacking ferociously, Yang Guo just waved out his hands without trying and didn’t use any strength to neutralize his attacks, he said, “Hey, you’ve got a wound on your shoulder, it’s better if you don’t use any energy.”
The official was startled and said, “What wound?” His left hand rubbed his right shoulder, there was a slight pain there, he quickly stretched out his right hand and checked his left shoulder, there was an identical pain, he had not moved he shoulders so didn’t notice the wound, when he used his fingers to touch his shoulder, there was a small area that ached to the bone. The official was shocked, he quickly took off his garment and looked over his shoulder, he saw a red dot on his left shoulder, there was a similar dot on his right. He understood, just know when yang Guo held his shoulders, he had a concealed weapon in his hands and now had fallen into his scheme, he was startled and shocked, he shouted, “What weapon did you use? Does it have poison or not?”
Yang Guo gave a wry smile and said, “You’ve learnt martial arts, how come you don’t know the rules? Large concealed weapons have no poison, small ones of course have.”
The official believed him but hoped that he made it up to scare him, his face’s expression seems to be convinced but also seemed to be suspicious.
Yang Guo smiled and said, “You shoulder has fallen victim to my divine needle, its poison deepens an inch every day, by the sixth day the poison would have reached the heart, then you’ll be dead.”
Although the official wanted him to cure the poison yet he didn’t dare to, under this anger he shouted, “Since it has ended up like this then master here is going to take you with me.” He threw himself forward again. Yang Guo slipped past him. He took out two ‘Jade Bee Needles’ and waited until his claws came out again, the hands came out, he sent the needles into his palms. The official felt a pain in his palms and stopped, he raised his palms to take a look and saw a fine needle in his palm, he immediately felt his palms go numb, he was shocked and didn’t dare to attack again. Another half hour passed before he said, “Fine, I admit defeat!”
Yang Guo laughed out loud and asked, “What’s you name?”
The official replied, “My name is Ye Luu Jin, can I have the honour of knowing hero’s name?”
Yang Guo replied, “My name is Yang Guo. What post do you hold within the Mongolian government?” Ye Luu Jin told him everything. He was the Mongolians prime minister Ye Luu Chu Cai’s son. Ye Luu Chu Cai aided Genghis Khan and Wo Kuo Tai to take over many lands, his achievements were outstanding, that is why although Ye Luu Jin was of a relatively young age, he held the high position of ‘Bian Liang Jing Lue Emissary’, he has come south to He Nan to complete his mission.
Yang Guo didn’t know what kind of position this was, he just nodded his head and said, “Great, great.”
Ye Lu Jin said, “I don’t know what I have done to disrespect hero, please forgive my ignorance. If hero has an order please say.”
Yang Guo laughed and said, “You haven’t done anything.” He suddenly darted out of the window.
Ye Luu Jin was shocked and called out, “Hero Yang” and ran to the window, but there was no trace of Yang Guo. Ye Luu Jin was troubled, “This person comes and goes as he pleases, I’ve fallen victim to his poison needle, what should I do?” He quickly took out the needles from his palm and felt the numbness in his palms and shoulders to begin to feel unbearable. In the midst of all this the window opened, Yang Guo suddenly returned, the room had another person, it was Lu Wu Shuang.
Ye Luu Jin said, “Ah, you’ve come back.”
Yang Guo pointed to Lu Wu Shuang and said, “She is my wifey, kowtow to her!”
Lu Wu Shuang shouted, “What did you say?” She turned her hand and gave a slap. If Yang Guo wanted to avoid it how would she be able to hit him? But for an inexplicable reason, when he was slapped and scolded by her he felt good, he didn’t move and a slapping sound was heard as his cheek suffered a slap. Ye Luu Jin didn’t know that the two always argued like this, he assumed that Lu Wu Shuang’s kung fu was stronger than Yang Guo’s, he stared in a daze at the two.
Yang Guo rubbed his cheek and laughed at Ye Luu Jin. He said, “You’ve suffered the poison of my divine needles, but you won’t die straight away. All you’ve got do is listen to my orders and then I’ll heal you.”
Ye Luu Jin said, “I’ve always admired heroes and good men, but I have never seen people with such abilities, today I have finally met someone worthy of this title, it is an honour. If hero Yang doesn’t tell me to live, I could still die with my eyes closed.” These words maintained his high status and praised the other at the same time. Yang Guo has never spoken with officials before, he didn’t know that they’ve all learnt how to praise their superiors, the higher the official, the better they are at flattery without being obvious. The officials from Mongolia were rough and coarse people but after they entered the central plains, they learnt the ways of the officials of china. After some words of praised, Yang Guo was pleased, he raised his finger and said, “Well, I didn’t guess that you are a man of honour as well. Come, I’ll immediately cure your poison.” He then used a sucking metal stone to remove the needles from his shoulder and them applied the antidote to the wounds.
Lu Wu Shuang has never seen the ‘Jade Bee Needles’ before, she saw that the needles were as fine as hair and it looked like that if one places the needles on water, it will float. She thought, “A gust of wind can blow that away, how can you use it as a concealed weapon?” She was even more in awe of Yang Guo but the words from her mouth said, “That type of evil weapon isn’t honourable, aren’t you scared of others laughing at you?”
Yang Guo laughed and ignored her, he said to Ye Luu Jin, “The two of us want to rely on you, your honour and be your attendants.”
Ye Luu Jin was startled and quickly said, “Hero Yang jokes with me, whatever you want just tell me.”
Yang Guo said, “I’m not joking, I really want to be your attendant your honour.”
Ye Luu Jin thought, “So the two want work for the government and gain something for themselves.” He couldn’t stop himself from being pleased, he gave a cough and returned to a serious face and said, “Hmm, you’ve learnt great martial arts, working for our king will lead to great prospects.”
Yang Guo laughed and said, “You’ve got it all wrong. We are being chased by an extremely powerful foe. We can’t beat her and want to disguise ourselves as your attendants to evade her.”
Ye Luu Jin was disappointed, his serious face loosened and chucked, he said, “With your martial arts, who gives a care about enemies. If there are too many of them I’ll gather my troops and catch them and let you decide on what to do.”
Yang Guo said, “Even I can’t beat them, there is no need for you worry about is your honour. Quickly order your attendants and give us some clothes to change into.” He said this casually but there was a stern tone within his voice. Ye Luu Jin ordered his attendants to bring some clothes for them to change into. Yang Guo and Lu Wu Shuang went to another room to change. Lu Wu Shuang got a mirror and examined herself, the person in the mirror was dressed in bright clothes, their pupils sparkled, it looked like a handsome Mongolian general, and she felt that this was going to be interesting.
They left early next morning. Lu Wu Shuang and Yang Guo were in a carriage lifted by attendants, Ye Luu Jin was still on horseback, before noon they heard the faint sounds of a ringing bell, from afar it came near, and it brushed past the crowd of people. Lu Wu Shuang was delighted and thought, “Comfortably sitting here in the carriage resting my wound is an ideal situation. Sha Dan’s mad idea has its good points. I’ll let them carry me to Jiang Nan.”
They travelled like this for two days and didn’t hear the bell sounds of Li Mo Chou anymore; Li Mo Chou must have gone straight ahead without turning back. There were also no trace of the beggars and Taoists that were looking for Lu Wu Shuang. By the third day they arrived at the Colt Dragon Stockade. This was an important trafficking point, many towns and cities flourished around here. After supper, Ye Lu Jin entered Yang Guo’s room and asked for martial arts advice. Words of flattery were said to Yang Guo, praising him highly. Yang Guo gave one or two pointers to him. Just as Ye Lu Jin was about to listen intently an attendant rushed in and said, “Your honour, our master has sent a letter here.”
Ye Luu Jin was delighted and said, “Fine, I’ll come now.” He was about to stand up and say goodbye to Yang Guo when he had a thought, “If I open the letter in front of him and show that I don’t treat him as an outsider, he’ll definitely teach me with all his efforts.” He then said to the attendant, “Send the messenger in.”
The attendant had a look of surprise his face and said, “That …that…”
Ye Luu Jin waved his hand and said, “Don’t delay, tell him to enter.”
The attendant said, “Its master himself.”
Ye Luu Jin’s face turned heavy and said, “Why are you still wasting time, quickly go” before he finished someone laughed from outside and entered, and said, “Jin Er, you couldn’t have guessed that it was me.”
Ye Lu Jin was shocked and pleased, he quickly dashed forward. He said, “Father, why are you…” That person laughed and said, “Yes! I’ve come here in person.” That person was Ye Luu Jin’s father, the Mongolian prime minister Ye Luu Chu Cai.
Yang Guo heard Ye Luu Jin call that person father, and didn’t know how powerful that person was, he was under one person but above millions, the person with the most power in court, the prime minister. He saw that he wasn’t very old, his face elegant, within his air of authority was an air of peace, he couldn’t stop himself from respecting this person.
As soon as that person sat down on a chair, two other people entered, they first greeted Ye Luu Jin and called him ‘big brother’. It was one male and one female, the male was around twenty-three, four years of age, the female was about the same age as Yang Guo. Ye Luu Jing was pleased and said, “Brother, sister, you are here as well.”
He said to his father, “Father, I didn’t have a clue that you have left the court.”
Ye Luu Chu Cai nodded and said, “Yes, there is an important business that must be attended to, if I didn’t do it myself I wouldn’t be able to relax.” He looked at Yang Guo and the rest of the attendants, indicating that he wants them to leave.
Ye Luu Jin was in a dilemma, he should tell his attendants to leave but Yang Guo was a person you couldn’t mess around with, his face had an expression of being unsure on what to do. Yang Guo knew what he was thinking, he laughed and exited the room by himself. Ye Luu Chu Cai was aware of Yang Guo, when he entered by himself all the other attendants greeted and bowed to him except for one, the person did as he pleased and had a proud air, he couldn’t stop himself from being wary and asked, “Who is that?”
Ye Luu Jin was a high official, if he said who Yang Guo was in front of his brother and sister he would have lost face, he answered ambiguously, “He is a friend that I made along the way. Father has made the trip to He Nan personally, what is this about?”
Ye Luu Chu Cai sighed, his face looked troubled and slowly explained everything.
When Genghis Khan died, his third son Wo Kuo Tai succeeded him. Wo Kuo Tai was the Khan for about thirty years before he died, his son Gui You succeeded. Gui You lost himself in drink and died just after three years of being the Khan, his queen took over the affairs. The queen trusted very few, the first generals and ministers caused the court to go into chaos. Ye Luu Chu Cai was a senior member of the court, and was one of the people who founded the state, whenever the queen made a wrong decision he would speak up truthfully. The queen saw that he opposed her orders, and of course was angry, but because he was a powerful minister and what he said was right, the queen could not take action lightly. Ye Luu Chu Cai knew that once he offended the queen, the hundred or so lives of his family would be in danger, and so he thought of a plan, he said that He Nan in the south was not under order, a minister was needed to go down there and sort it out and he nominated himself. The queen was delighted thinking the further this person goes the better so she can avoid getting angry everyday and so she agreed to the order. And so Ye Luu Chu Cai took his second son Ye Luu Qi and daughter Ye Luu Yan to He Nan, officially he was down here to dissipate the unrest, but unofficially he was down here to avoid a disaster.

Yang Guo went into another room and chatted and joked with Lu Wu Shuang but Lu Wu Shuang turned away and ignored him. After getting no replies, Yang Guo bent his knees and sat down and meditated. Lu Wu Shuang wasn’t interested. She saw that he closed his eyes and didn’t move for half a day and said, “Hey, Sha Dan, why are you meditating now?” Yang Guo didn’t reply. Lu Wu Shuang angrily said, “There is no need to rush your kung fu, are you going to chat with me?” As she was about to move him with her hand, Yang Guo suddenly leapt up and quietly said, “There’s someone about on the roof!”
Lu Wu Shuang didn’t hear anything, she raised her head and look up at the roof, she said, “Are you lying again?”
Yang Gu said, “No, it’s on the roof two buildings over.”
Lu Wu Shuang didn’t believe him and laughed, she quietly scolded him, “Sha Dan.” She assumed that he was playing dumb.
Yang Guo tugged her sleeve and quietly said, “Let’s hide before your master finds us.”
When Lu Wu Shuang heard the word ‘master’, her back broke out in a cold sweat and followed him to the window. Yang Guo lifted his head to the west, Lu Wu Shuang also lifted her head, and indeed, she saw someone in black on the roof of the building two rooms over. It was now the middle of the night, there was no light from the moon and stars, if one didn’t carefully examined the roof, it would be hard to spot anything, she admired him secretly, “How did Sha Dan detect this?” She knew that her master held herself up very highly, when she moved at night she would still wear her apricot yellow gown, she would never wear black. She went over to Yang Guo’s ear and whispered, “It’s not master.”
As soon as the words were spoken, the person in black suddenly got up and flew across the roofs arrived outside the window of the room that Ye Luu Chu Cai was in. She kicked open the window, and leapt in holding a sabre, she called out, “Ye Luu Chu Cai, I’m going to take you to hell along with me.” It was a girl’s voice.
Yang Guo’s heart shook, “That girl’s movements are extremely fast, her skills are above Ye Luu Jin’s, father here is afraid that his life will be in danger.”
Lu Wu Shuang called out, “Let’s go.” The two hurried to the scene and witnessed what was happening through the window. He saw that Ye Luu Jin was holding up a bench moving back and forth, battling with the girl in black. The girl was young but her sabre techniques were vicious, the Willow Leaf Sabre in her hand was extremely sharp, a series of slashes hacked of the four legs of the bench. Ye Luu Jin saw he wasn’t going to hold on and called out, “Father, run away!” He then shouted, “Men, men!” The girl threw out a kick, Ye Luu Jin was not prepared for it and was kicked in the waist, his body flipped as he fell onto the floor. The girl dashed forward and raised her sabre above Ye Luu Chu Cai’s head and slashed down.
Yang Guo thought, “Oh no!” Thinking that he should rescue that person first and then talk about it later, he held a ‘Jade Bee Needle’ and was about to shoot it out at the girl’s wrist when he heard Ye Luu Chu Cai’s daughter Ye Luu Yan called out, “One mustn’t have no manners!” She chopped out at the girl’s face with her right palm, her left hand used [Empty Hands Entering a Hundred Blades] kung fu to take her sabre. Those two moves suited each other exquisitely, the girl moved her head to avoid the palm and her wrist was held by Ye Luu Yan, she quickly threw out a kick, Ye Luu Yan had to move back, her blade wasn’t taken away. Yang Guo saw that the two girls’ attacks were swift and quick and was slightly surprised. In a flash the two had hacked and slashed, seven, eight moves had passed.
At that time, over ten guards burst into the room, when they saw the two girls fighting, they dashed forward. Ye Luu Jin said, “Wait! Sister doesn’t need your help.”
Yang Guo quietly said to Lu Wu Shuang, “Wifey, those two girl’s skills are better than yours.”
Lu Wu Shuang was angered and threw out a palm. Yang Guo slipped away and laughed, he said, “Don’t get angry, it’s better to watch them fight.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Tell me the truth, am I better or are those girls better.”
Yang Guo quietly said, “One on one, the two girl’s have nothing on you. Two on one, based on kung fu only you will lose. But they are too honest in their attacks, they can’t compare with your tricks, ruthlessness and viciousness, and so you would win.”
Lu Wu Shuang was pleased, and whispered, “What ‘tricks, ruthlessness and viciousness’, that doesn’t sound too nice! When it comes to trickery, no one can compare with out mister Sha Dan.”
Yang Guo smiled and said, “Doesn’t that mean you are Mrs Sha Dan?” Lu Wu Shuang gave a quiet grunt.
They watched the two battle on. Ye Luu Yan did not have a weapon and after many tries still could not take the girl’s sabre away, and now she was forced to defend and evade the attack with no way to attack.
Ye Luu Qi said, “Sister, let me try.”
He slanted his body and moved forwards, his right hand threw out three palms in succession. Ye Luu Yan stood by the wall said, “Fine, let’s watch you.”
After Yang Guo saw Ye Luu Qi’s three stances, he couldn’t stop himself from being slightly surprised. He left hand was planted in his waist not moving, his right hand extended and pulled back, his feet didn’t move. He was able to fend off the girl’s sabre, his stances were refined, and positioning accurate, he wasn’t ordinary and Yang Guo thought, “That person is exceedingly good, his skills looks like Quan Zhen yet there are some things different.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Sha Dan, his skills are much better than yours.”
Yang Guo was in a trance as he watched on; he didn’t even hear what she had said,

"At the second mount Wah competition, Ou Yang Feng reversed his veins and bit down on Huang Yao Shi’s finger. When one reverse their veins, chi is distributed through their lips, the mouth will open and close, an intent to bit someone is automatically created. In the body, nothing can compare with the strength of teeth biting down, the teeth can shatter and tear things that hands can’t. "

Q: Does this mean that QYF's crazy fighting style is a product of his deranged chi distribution during fights rather than a product of an unbalanced mind, or does both contributes?

Q2: Ye Luu Qi’s Quan Zhen kungfu was described as being different from the traditional Quan Zhen kungfu. IS this due to ZBT's own interpretation of the QZ's kungfu? or due to inadequate time that ZBT teaches YLQ?
Additional question: At this stage, Would YG be better than YLQ or vice versa?

Question 1) Both but (IMO) more towards the chi thing. This was an unorthodox method to circulate chi so the external stances would be unorthodox as well. However being slightly disturbed also helps with the mad stances <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">.

Question 2) I think ZBT taught him other interpretations of Quan Zhen kung fu as well the normal stuff. I think ZBT spent quite a bit of time with him considering how good he became by this time.

It was pretty close between Yang Guo and Ye Luu Qi. Yang Guo himself said he wasn't sure whether he could beat Ye Luu Qi or not although this could be because he was being modest and trying to impress Wan Yan Ping. Later on in chapter 10 they both show their skills. It seems that Ye Luu Qi's internal energy was pretty good, maybe better than Yang Guo's (though this could be because he was using full strength in an urgent situation). Even if Ye Luu Qi's internal energy was slightly higher, with their present internal energy levels technique is more important, Yang Guo would probably beat him because of superior technique and speed though it may take over a hundred moves.

Ye Luu Qi said, “Sister, watch carefully. I’ll hit her ‘Scholar Arm’ (bei ru) pressure point and she would move her body and retreat, I’ll follow this by hitting her ‘Big Bone’ pressure point, she must raise her sabre to attack. At this time the attack must be fast and then you’ll be able to snatch her sabre.”
The girl in black said, “Huh, it won’t be that easy.”
Ye Luu Qi said, “It will be like that.” As he said this he used his right hand to attack her ‘Scholar Arm’ pressure point. This palm was sent out in a crisscross, blocking all her paths to the front, back and right, leaving only a space to the left. If the girl wants to avoid his palm she must retreat two steps. Ye Luu Qi nodded his head and indeed, he did strike her ‘Big Bone’ pressure point.
The girl had always remembered, “I mustn’t raise my sabre to counterattack.” But in this situation the only way to get any sort of advantage is to raise the sabre and slash down, at that time she didn’t think for long, she raised her sabre and slashed down.
Ye Luu Qi said, “Just like that!” Everyone thought he was going to snatch the sabre away but who would have thought that he would take his right arm back and put his hands together in his sleeve. The girl had not slashed down with her sabre yet, when she saw his arms in his sleeves she stopped momentarily. Ye Luu Qi suddenly stretched out his right arm, his two fingers held the sabre’s back and he lifted up, the girl could not hold on, her sabre was snatched away.
After the crowd of people saw this great skill they stood there for a while, the room like an empty hall. The girl in black stood there without moving, her face looked dejected.
Everyone thought, “Second master hasn’t made another move, he’s giving her a chance to run away. If she doesn’t escape, what does she want?”
Ye Luu Qi slowly moved away and said to Ye Luu Yan, “She hasn’t got a weapon now, fight with her again, be a bit braver and be more aware of her palms and kicks.”
Ye Luu Yan stepped forward two steps and said, “Wan Yan Ping, we are giving you a chance to run, but you still remain here and keep on forcing us, could it be that you won’t give up today?”
Wan Yan Ping did not reply, her heard lowered in deep thought. Ye Luu Yan said, “If you want to fight with me then quickly get it over with!” After she said this she dashed forward and threw two fists towards her front. Wan Yan Ping leapt back and said coldly, “Give back my sabre.”
Ye Luu Yan was startled and said, “My brother took away your weapon so we could have a fair fight, why are you asking for your weapon?” She said, “Fine!” She took the Willow Leaf Sabre from her brother’s hand and flung it towards her.
A guard offered out his sabre and said, “Third mistress, you use a weapon as well.”
Ye Luu Yan said “No.” But then she thought, “I can’t beat her empty handed, we’ll compete with sabres.” She took the sabre and tried out two slashes, the sword was a bit on the heavy side but she could use it if she had to.
Wan Yan Ping’s face was pale white, her left hand raised her sabre, her right hand pointed at Ye Lu Chu Cai and said, “Ye Luu Chu Cai, you helped the Mongols to kill my parents, I won’t be able to take my revenge in this life. We’ll sort this out in hell!” After she finished her words her left hand raised the sabre and moved towards her neck.
Yang Guo heard her words and saw that her eyes and expression was cold and mournful, his heart jumped, his chest was in pain, his voice cracked as he said, “Gu Gu!”
At this time, Wan Yan Ping had raised her sabre to kill herself. Ye Luu Qi dashed forward two steps, his right arm came out and stretched out his two fingers and snatched the sabre back again, and sealed her arm’s pressure points. He said, “You’re fine at the moment, why must you be so short sighted?” The sabre raising to kill herself and it being snatched away happened in a flash, by the time the crowd of people saw what had happened, the sabre was in Ye Luu Qi’s hand. Everyone in the room let out a call of surprise, no one noticed Yang Guo’s shout of ‘Gu Gu’, but Lu Wu Shuang was by his side and heard what he had said, she quietly whispered, “Who are you calling? Is she your Gu Gu?”
Yang Guo quickly replied, “No! No.” When he saw Wan Yan Ping’s eyes it showed a feeling of hurt and grief, her expression was grey, it was just like what Xiao Long Nuu had looked like when she left him. After he saw this he was sentimental and mad, he didn’t know where he was.
Ye Luu Chu Cai slowly said, “Miss Wan Yan, you have tried to kill me three times. I am the prime minister of Mongolia; I overturned your country and killed your parents. But do you know who killed my ancestors?”
Wan Yan Ping shook her head and said, “I don’t know.”
Ye Luu Chu Cai said, “My ancestor were Da Liao’s royals, Da Liao was overturned by the Jin’s. The Wan Yan’s didn’t leave many of us behind. When I was young I made an oath, I will help the Khan of Mongolia to rid of you Jin’s. Ah… When will this cycle of revenge end?” When he said this two last sentences, he looked out of the window and thought about how helping these countries to fight for power has result in the lost of many lives, mountains of bodies and rivers of blood were a result.
Wan Yan Ping had no reply, she revealed a few of her white teeth as she bit down on her lip, she gave a grunt and said to Ye Luu Qi, “I failed three times because my abilities aren’t good enough, I want to leave it at that. I want to kill myself, what does that have to do with you?”
Ye Luu Qi said, “If miss promises that she won’t come back to seek revenge then you can go!”
Wan Yan Ping gave another ‘huh’ sound and stared angrily. Ye Luu Qi used the handle of the Willow Leaf Sabre and touched her waist lightly, unsealing her pressure points. He then threw the sabre back towards her. Wan Yan Ping struggled to catch it but eventually did, she said, “Master Ye Luu, you have let me go many times and have held back, do you think I don’t know this? Its just that the debts between the Wan Yan’s and Ye Luu’s are as deep as the sea, I must avenge my parents.”
Ye Luu Qi thought, “That girl insists on tailing us, that girl’s is not weak, if I leave father’s side just a few steps then what will happen? Ah, why don’t I force her into come after me only?” He clearly said, “Miss Wan Yan, you are seeking revenge on behalf of your parents, I admire your will. Its just that the older generations matter should be dealt with the older generations. We juniors have our own debts. The matter between our families should be dealt between us, if you want to take revenge, find me, if you go after my father again then next time we meet I will not make it easy for you.”
Wan Yan Ping said, “Huh, my martial arts aren’t as good as yours, how can I avenge my parents? Just leave it, leave it.” She turned around and exited.
Ye Luu Qi knew that as soon as she leaves she will plan to end her life, he wanted to save her and chuckled, “Huh, the girl of Wan Yan has no will.”
Wan Yan Ping stopped and turned around and said, “How have I got no will?”
Ye Luu Qi chuckled and said, “You are correct when you said my skills are higher than yours, but what’s so good about it? It’s only because I have been taught by a great master, and not because I have some kind of great ability. Your [Iron Palm] kung fu is one of the best palm techniques, it’s just that the person who taught you has not reached a refined stage, you have only began to practise it recently, of course it will be hard for you to defeat enemies with it. You are young, all you’ve got do is to find a better master, can’t you do this?”
Wan Yan Ping was originally angry but after hearing these words she nodded.
Ye Luu Qi continued, “Every time I fight with you I only use my right hand its not because I’m arrogant. It’s just that my left hand is strong, every attack aims to hurt someone. How about this, after you’ve studied under a better master, you can come and find me at anytime, all you’ve got to do is to force me to use my left hand and my life will be in your hands.” He knew that the differences between their skills are a mile apart, even after getting advice from a skilled teacher, it will be hard for her to beat his one hand; when someone wants to kill themselves its just an impulsive decision, once she goes and search for a master, her priorities will change and eventually the thought of killing herself would have gone.
Wan Yan Ping thought, “You’re not a god, I’ll practise hard, do you think I won’t be able use my two hands to beat your one hand?” She raised her sabre in the air and slashed down, she said, “The words of a gentlemen”
Ye Luu Qi finished, “A whip on a fast horse!”
Wan Yan Ping did not look at the crowd and held her head high as she exited, but her face could not hide her anguish. When the guards saw that second master has let her go, they didn’t dare to block her, they all paid their respects to Ye Luu Chu Cai and exited. Ye Luu Jin saw that this event was like heaven and earth turning upside down, but Yang Guo did not show himself, he was surprised.
Ye Luu Yan said, “Second Brother, why did you let her go again?”
Ye Luu Qi said, “What?”
Ye Luu Yan smiled and said, “If you want her to be my sister in law then you shouldn’t have let her go.”
Ye Luu Qi’s face turned serious and said, “Don’t talk rubbish!” Ye Luu Yan saw that he was serious, she was afraid that he would get angry so didn’t joke around again.
When Yang Guo heard Ye Luu Yan say ‘want her to be my sister in law’, for no reason at all his heart ached slightly, he saw that Wan Yan Ping was heading in a south east direction and said to Lu Wu Shuang, “I’ll go and take a look.”
Lu Wu Shuang said, “Look at what?” Yang Guo didn’t reply and utilized his lightness kung fu and chased after her.

Wan Yan Ping’s martial art skills weren’t strong but her lightness kung fu was good, Yang Guo chased after her but only saw her again after they were outside the Colt Dragon Stockade town. He saw her arriving at a manor, she opened the door and entered. Yang Guo followed and hid by the wall. After half an hour, a light could be seen from the double room in the western wing, followed by a long sigh. That long sigh contained much anguish, hate and worry. Yang Guo heard this from outside the window, he was startled and was moved, unconsciously he too gave out a long sigh. Wan Yan Ping heard that someone was sighing outside her window so she quickly blew out the light and went over to the wall and quietly asked, “Who is it?”
Yang Guo said, “Someone like you, someone whose heart is in pain.”
Wan Yan Ping was startled, she heard that his voice did not seem to carry any evil intent so she asked, “Who exactly are you?”
Yang Guo said, “There’s a saying; ‘When a gentlemen wants revenge, ten year is not long’. You failed a few times and then want to kill yourself, are you viewing your life with disregard? What about your revenge, aren’t you disregarding that matter even more?”
A creaking sound was heard as the doors were open, Wan Yan Ping lit a candle and said, “Please enter.” Yang Guo made a bow outside the door and entered. Wan Yan Ping saw that he was dressed in the clothes of a Mongolian general and was very young, she was astounded and said, “Your advice makes sense, could I have pleasure of knowing your name?”
Yang Guo didn’t reply, he placed his arms in his sleeves and said, “That Ye Luu Qi talks big, thinking that only using his right arm makes him highly skilled. Sealing pressure points and snatching a sabre away, how hard can it be with no hands?”
Wan Yan Ping objected to this but because she didn’t know he was she didn’t rebuke him.
Yang Guo said, “I’ll teach you three stances and you’ll be able to force Ye Luu Qi to use both hands. I’ll fight with you now, I won’t use my arms and legs, how about that?”
Wan Yan Ping was shocked, she thought, “Could it be that you know some kind of witchcraft, you could blow me down in one breath?”
Yang Guo saw that she was hesitating and said, “Use your sabre, if I can’t avoid them then I’ll die without complaining.”
Wan Yan Ping said, “Fine, I won’t use my sabre, I’ll only use my fists and palms.”
Yang Guo shook his head and said, “No, you’ll only believe me if I could snatch away your sabre without using my arms and legs.”
Wan Yan Ping saw that he seemed to be joking but serious at the same time, she was slightly angry and said, “I have never heard or seen someone who has your abilities.” As she finished she waved out her sabre and slashed down at his shoulder. She saw that Yang Guo’s hands were in his sleeves as if nothing was happening, she was afraid that she would hurt him so moved her sabre slightly to the side. Yang Guo understood, he didn’t move and said, “Don’t hold back, hack down for real!” The Willow Leaf Sabre hacked down; there were only a few inches between the sabre and his shoulder. Wan Yan Ping saw that he didn’t make body movements and respected his courage, she thought, “Is he a demon?” The Willow Leaf Sabre slanted and hacked down, she wasn’t holding back in this slash. Yang Guo lowered his body the sabre brushed past him; there were only a few inches in between. Wan Yan Ping concentrated; she raised her sabre and slashed down again.
Yang Guo dodged past the slash and said, “You can add your palm attacks as well.”
Wan Yan Ping said, “Fine.” The sabre slashed across, followed by a palm. Yang Guo slanted his body and evaded these attacks and said, “There’s no harm in going faster.”
Wan Yan Ping started to use her sabre techniques, she used her palms in between, it became faster as she used them. Yang Guo said, “Your palms are swift, its better than your sabre techniques. Ye Luu Qi said this was the [Iron Palm] technique, is it?”
Wan Yan Ping nodded, her attacks became even more lethal. Yang Guo’s hands were still in his sleeves, it floated around in between the sabre and palms. Wan Yan Ping used a sabre and her [Iron Palm] but didn’t even manage to touch his clothes. She had used over half her sabre techniques and Yang Guo said, “Careful, within three moves I’ll take your sabre.”
Wan Yan Ping respected him but still did not believe him that he would be able to take her sabre in three moves, she couldn’t stop herself from holding the handle of the sabre even tighter and said, “Come and get it!” She slashed her sabre across using the stance [Qin’s Crossing] (yun heng qin ling) and slashed across his throat. Yang Guo lowered his head and darted below the blade, he slanted his head and his forehead struck her elbow’s ‘Crooked Pond’ pressure point. Wan Yan Ping’s arm went numb, her fingers lost their strength. Yang Guo moved his head up and opened his mouth, he lightly and skilfully snatched the sabre away. His head moved, the handle of the sabre struck her side, hitting her pressure point. Yang go raised his head and loosened his teeth, he flung the sabre upwards away so he could speak clearly, he said, “How about it, are you in awe?” As he finished the sabre dropped back down, he opened his mouth and caught it, he laughed as he looked at her. Wan Yan Ping was startled but pleased, she nodded her head.
Yang go saw that her eyes were sparkling, its beauty was enchanting and moving, he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to hold her, kiss her, but this was too daring, he bit down on the knife as his face blushed.
How could Wan Yan Ping know what he was thinking, she saw that he had a strange expression and was slightly surprised, she felt her whole body going soft, her legs were about to give way and fall over. Yang Guo stepped forward, he was just about an inch away, he wanted to fling the sabre away and kiss her on her eyelids when he suddenly thought, “She’s touched by the respect that Ye Luu Qi treats her with, could it be that I’m inferior to him? Huh, I want to beat him in every department.” He lowered his head and swung his jaw, the handle of the sabre touched her waist and unsealed her pressure points. He offered the handle to her.
Wan Yan Ping did not take the sabre, her knees fell down onto the floor and said, “I beg master to teach me, I’ll be forever indebted to you if I can avenge my parents.”
Yang Guo quickly picked her up and took the sabre from his mouth, he said, “How can I be your master? However, I can still teach you a method to take Ye Luu Qi’s life.”
Wan Yan Ping was pleased and said, “As long as I can kill him, I’m not afraid of his brother and sister and then I’ll be able to kill his father.” She suddenly thought of someone and sadly said, “Ai… by the time I’ve achieved the ability to kill him, would master Ye Luu still be alive? I still won’t be able to avenge my parents death.”
Yang Guo laughed and said, “That Ye Luu Chu Cai’s life will still be there for you to take.”
Wan Yan Ping wondered, “How?”
Yang Guo said, “How hard is it to take Ye Luu Qi’s life? I’ll teach you three stances, you’ll be able to kill him tonight.”
Wan Yan Ping had tried to kill Ye Luu Chu Cai three times, but each time Ye Lu Qi stopped her, she knew that Ye Luu Qi’s skills were ten times better than her, she thought about how although the young Mongolian general in front of her was skilled, he may not be able to beat Ye Luu Qi, even if he could beat him, there is no way that teaching her three moves will allow her to kill Ye Luu Qi, and to kill him tonight was even more difficult. She was afraid that Yang Guo would get angry so she didn’t say anything to rebuke him, she just shook her head slightly, her eyes showed that she was thinking that he was mad.
Yang Guo knew what she was thinking and said, “Correct, my kung fu may not be better than his, if we really fought, it could be that I have more losses than wins. But teaching you three moves to take his life is not a difficult task. I’m only afraid that because he spared you three times you won’t kill him.”
Wan Yan Ping’s heart shook, and immediately said without any feelings, “Though he has been kind to me, I must avenge my parents.”
Yang Guo said, “Fine, I’ll teach you the three stances. If you have the chance to kill him but spare him, what then?”
Wan Yan Ping said, “I’ll do whatever you say. With your ability, you can beat me, kill me, how can I escape?”
Yang Guo thought, “How can I kill you? If you kill him or not, what has that got to do with me?” So he chuckled and said, “Actually does three stances aren’t anything special. Watch carefully.”
He picked up the sabre and slowly slashed from the left to the right, and said, “The first stance, it’s [Qin’s Crossing].”
Wan Yan Ping thought, “I already know that move, who needs you to teach me?” She saw the sabre coming towards her and slanted her body to avoid it. Yang Guo suddenly stretched out his hand and grabbed her right hand and said, “The second stance is the stance that you’ve used twice before, [The Rattan Around the Tree].”
Wan Yan Ping nodded and said, “Yes, its my [Iron Palm’s] trapping hand stance.”
Yang Guo held her soft and smooth hand, his heart stirred and smiled and said, “You should have learned the Jade Flesh Palm kung fu, why did you learn the [Iron Palm’s] capturing hand kung fu?”
Wan Yan Ping didn’t know he was joking and said, “Is there a Jade Flesh Palm? The name sounds beautiful.” She felt him holding her palm, tight and then loose, the force behind it was extremely light, she felt that this palm technique wasn’t as lethal as her [Iron Palm’s] capturing hand techniques and thought, “I know you’re the first two stances that you are teaching me, could it be that just with the third stance, Ye Luu Qi would be killed?”
Yang Guo stared at her eyes and said, “Watch closely!” Suddenly he flipped his wrist and slashed the sword towards his neck.
Wan Yan Ping was startled and called out, “What are you doing?” Her right hand was held tightly by Yang Guo, she quickly stretched out her left hand to snatch away his sabre. Even though it was an urgent situation, her [Iron Palm’s] capturing hand came out with great accuracy, she grabbed his wrist and pulled backwards, the sabre was pulled away from his neck. Yang Guo loosened his hand and took two steps back. He laughed and said, “Do you understand?”
Wan Yan Ping wasn’t settled yet, her heart was jumping all over the place, and didn’t understood what he meant.
Yang Guo laughed and said, “First use [Qin’s Crossing] and then use [The Rattan Around the Tree] holding tightly to his right hand, the third stance is to kill yourself, he will definitely rescue you with his left hand. He swore an oath to you, all you’ve got to do is to force him to use his left hand and he’ll let you kill him without objecting. Won’t that do?”
Wan Yan Ping thought this would happen, she stared at him, startled.
Yang Guo said, “Those three stances are without fail, if it won’t work I’ll kowtow to you.”
Wan Yan Ping shook her head and said, “He said he won’t use his left hand, he definitely won’t. What then?”
Yang Guo said, “What about it? Since you’ll never be able to avenge your parents then won’t dying be a clean solution?”
Wan Yan Ping nodded her head mournfully and said, “You are right. Thank you for the advice. Who exactly are you?”
Before Yang Guo replied, a girl’s voice from outside the window called out, “He’s called Sha Dan, don’t listen to what he says.”
When Yang Guo heard that Lu Wu Shuang’s voice he laughed and didn’t reply. Wan Yan Ping went over to the window and saw a black image, a person leapt over the wall.
Wan Yan Ping wanted to chase after them but Yang Guo pulled her hand and laughed, he said, “There’s no need to chase after them, it’s my companion. She loves to make trouble for me.”
She looked at him and thought deeply for a while, and said, “Since you don’t want to tell me then I won’t force you. I believe that your have good intentions.” Yang Guo saw her eyes sparkled, her expression was crystal clear, he couldn’t stop himself from being filled with pity and sympathy, he pulled her hand and sat shoulder to shoulder on the bed. He softly said, “My surname is Yang, first name Guo, I’m a Han, not a Mongol. I’m like you, my parents are also dead.”
When Wan Yan Ping heard this her heart felt sad, two drops of tears escaped from her eyes. Yang Guo was emotional and suddenly cried out. Wan Yan Ping took out a handkerchief from her pocket and gave it to him. Yang Guo took it and wiped his face, he remembered his past and more tears rained down.
Wan Yan Ping smiled and said, “Master Yang, you’re making me cry now.”
Yang Guo said, “Don’t call me master Yang. How old are you?”
Wan Yan Ping said, “I’m eighteen, what about you?”
Yang Guo said, “I’m eighteen as well.” He thought, “If I’m born later than her and she calls me little brother, it won’t seem right.” I was born in the first month, you can call me big brother Yang. I won’t be formal with you, I’ll call you sister Wan Yan.”
Wan Yan Ping blushed, she felt that he was straightforward and extremely strange but it seem that he had no ill intentions towards her so she nodded her head. When Yang Guo saw that she nodded her head he was pleased. Wan Yan Ping’s face was elegant, she was slim but she’s had tragic experiences, it seemed that she was born to attract sympathy and pity, but what was most important was that her eyes and Xiao Long Nuu’s were extremely alike. He didn’t consider the fact that when someone’s heart is full of grief, their eyes will be filled with sorrow and anguish. Everyone is different in this world, when he said that her eyes looked like Xiao Long Nuu’s he was just consoling himself. As he stared into her eyes, he imagined her black clothes were white, he turned her slim and oval face into Xiao Long Nuu’s beautiful face, he was in a daze as he stared at her, his face revealed an expression of beseeching, of being sentimental, of affection, of love.
Wan Yan Pin was slightly afraid and lightly pulled her hand away, she quietly said, “What are you doing?”
Yang Guo woke up from his dream and sighed. He said, “Nothing. Are you going to kill him?”
Wan Yan Ping said, “I’m going now. Brother Yang, are you coming with me?”
Yang Guo was about to say “Of course” but then he thought, “If I’m there, she will know that she has strong backup, she won’t really commit herself to suicide, Ye Luu Qi will not fall into the trap.” He said, “I’m not going with you.”
Wan Yan Ping eyes showed some signs of disappointment. Yang Guo’s heart softened, he was about to agree when Wan Yan Ping suddenly said quietly, “Fine brother Yang, I’m afraid I won’t see you again.”
Yang Guo quickly said, “Why…why…I…”
Wan Yan Ping shook her head she exited the manor and in a flash had arrived at the Ye Luu’s residence. At that time, Ye Luu Chu Cai and the others were about to go to bed. Wan Yan Ping knocked twice at the front door and clearly said, “Wan Yan Ping wants to see master Ye Luu Ye Luu Qi.” Some guards were about to go up to her and block her way when Ye Luu Qi opened the door and asked, “What can I do for Miss Wan Yan.”
Wan Yan Ping said, “I want to test out your skills.”
Ye Luu Qi wondered, “How come you don’t know your limits?” He slanted his body and stretched out his right hand and said, “Please enter.”
Wan Yan Ping entered the room with her sabre and unleashed three strokes with it, sandwiched between the slashes were six [Iron Palms], this [One Slash with Two Palms] attacked together from the left and right. Ye Luu Qi’s left hand hanged down, his right hand chopped and grabbed as he neutralised the three slashes and six palms. He thought, “How can I force her away and stop her from bothering our family ever again?”
The two fought for a while and Wan Yan Ping was about to use the three stances that Yang Guo taught her, when a girl’s voice from outside called out, “Ye Luu Qi, she wants to trick you into using your left hand, careful.” It was Lu Wu Shuang.
Ye Luu Qi was startled, Wan Yan Ping didn’t give him time to think and immediately used a stance of [Qin’s Crossing] and waited for his to slant his body to dodge it. She stretched out her left arm and used [The Rattan Around the Tree], she grabbed his right arm, her right arm turned over and slashed the sabre towards her throat. In that short period of time many thoughts ran through Ye Luu Qi’s mind, “Must I save her? But she’s tricking me into using my left hand, once I use it my life will be in her hands. How can a gentleman stand by and do nothing?
Yang Guo had seen through Ye Luu Qi’s thoughts, once the three stances were out, he would definitely try to rescue her, but he couldn’t have predicted that Lu Wu Shuang would have popped up and mess with the plan, informing Ye Luu Qi of the danger.
The plan wouldn’t have worked, but Ye Luu Qi was heroic and generous, he knew that if he saved her his life would be hers, in this danger he still stretched out his left hand and blocked Wan Yan Ying’s right wrist, his wrist turned and took her Willow Leaf Sabre. After these three stances, each one of them took two steps back. Ye Luu Qi didn’t wait for her to open her mouth and threw the sabre back and said, “You have forced me to use my left hand, you can kill me but I have one request.”
Wan Yan Ping’s face was pale and said, “What is it?”
Ye Luu Qi said, “I beg you to stop harming my father.” Wan Yan Ping gave an ‘humph’ grunt and walked forwards, she raised the sabre, under the candlelight she could see that he was still calm, and saw his manly air, she thought about how he used his left hand to save her, how could she hack down? The intent to kill in her eyes slowly turned to peace, she threw down her sabre and left.

She ran without thinking and followed her steps until she got arrived at a stream outside the town, she stared at the reflection of the stars in the stream, her mind and heart in a mess. After a while, she sighed.
Suddenly, a sighing noise could be heard from behind. Wan Yan Ping was startled, she turned around and saw someone standing behind her; it was Yang Guo. She called out ‘Brother Yang’ and didn’t say anything.
Yang Guo went forwards and held her hands, he consoled her, “Avenging your parents isn’t an easy thing to do. There is no rush.”
Wan Yan Ping said, “You saw everything?” Yang Guo nodded. Wan Yan Ping said, “Of course it will be hard for one as useless as me to avenge their parents. All I need is half your ability and I wouldn’t be in this situation.”
Yang Guo took her hand and led her to under a tree where they sat next to each other and said, “Even if you learned everything I know what use is it? Although you can’t avenge your parents now, at least you know who to take revenge against, won’t you have chances again in the future? What about me? I don’t even know how my father died, let alone who killed him, I can’t even talk about revenge.”
Wan Yan Ping froze and said, “Your parents were killed by someone too?”
Yang Guo sighed and said, “My mother died due to illness, my father died without reason. I have never seen my father before.”
Wan Yan Ping said, “How do you know?”
Yang Guo said, “By the time I was born, my father had died. I ask my mother how did my father die, who is our enemy? Every time I ask mother would always end up in tears and won’t reply, after I stopped asking. At that time I thought it won’t be too late if I ask her when I get a bit older but who could have guessed that mother would have died suddenly due to illness. Before she died I asked her again. Mother just shook her head and said, “Your father… your father… ai… son, don’t ever, ever think about revenge. Promise mother that you’ll never think about avenging your father.” I was sad and grief stricken, I called out, “I won’t promise, I won’t promise!” Mother didn’t breathe again and died. Ai … tell what should I do?” He wanted to say these words to console Wan Yan Ping but after he finished he himself was sad. There’s a saying, ‘One mustn’t live under the same sky as the person who killed your father”, if someone didn’t avenge their father, that is the most unfilial thing to do, they would suffer disgrace and humiliation and be despised by other people. Yang Guo didn’t even know the name of his father’s killer, he has hidden this matter in heart for a long time, now that he has got it off his chest, his voice was filled with sadness and anger.
Wan Yan Ping said, “Who bought you up?”
Yang Guo said, “Who else? It was me of course. Once my mother died I wandered around the world of Jiang Hu, I asked for a meal here and pleaded for shelter there, sometimes I couldn’t endure hunger any longer and would steal some a melon or a potato from a family, I always got caught and got beaten for a while. Look, I have many scars, my bones stick out, these are all from when I got beaten when I was younger.” He smiled and rolled up his leg for her to see. The stars and moonlight was indistinct, Wan Yan Ping could not see clearly, Yang Guo took her hand and rubbed it over the scars on his lower leg. Wan Yan Ping could make out the bumps of the scars and couldn’t stop her heart from aching, she thought about herself, how although she has lost her family, his father had many old friends and acquaintances, and had left even more money and treasures, compared to him, she was a lot more fortunate.
The two were silent for a while, Wan Yan Ping pulled her hand lightly away from his leg but her hand was still held by him, she quietly asked, “How did you learn your great martial arts? And how did you become a Mongolian official?”
Yang Guo smiled and said, “I’m not a Mongolian official. I’m wearing Mongolian clothes so I can hide from my enemy.”
Wan Yan Ping was pleased and said, “That’s good.”
Yang Guo asked, “What’s good?”
Wan Yan Ping’s face turned slightly red and said, “The Mongols are the mortal enemies of the Jin’s, of course I hoped that you aren’t a Mongolian official.”
Yang Guo held onto her soft and smooth hand, his mind wasn’t settled, and said, “If I was a Jin official, how would you treat me?”
When Wan Yan Ping saw that he was handsome and skilled in martial arts, she had liked him a bit, in her troubled times she had his help and now she heard about his past and sympathised with him even more, right now, she heard his voice had some ill intent but she was not angry and sighed, saying, “If my father was alive, whatever you want, my father could have given it to you. Now my parents have gone, what use it there in talking about this?”
Yang Go heard her voice was gentle and peaceful, he stretched out his hand and placed it on her shoulder and whispered into her ear, “Sister, I have one request.”
Wan Yan Ping’s heart jumped around, she had an inkling to what he wanted to ask for and quietly asked, “What?”
Yang Guo said, “I want to kiss your eyes, relax! I just want to kiss your eyes, I won’t do anything to violate you.”
Wan Yan Ping had thought that he wanted to ask for her hand in marriage, and was afraid that he wanted to get intimate, if she refused and he used a little force, how would she be a match for him?
Now, she was a girl touched by young love, her hand was tightly held by his strong, coarse hand, she was enchanted by the tangles of love, without saying that he would use force, even if he didn’t use force, it was hard for her to refuse, who would have thought that all he wanted was to kiss her eyes, she couldn’t stop herself from letting out a sigh of relief, but there was a touch of disappointment in her heart, she felt surprise, her heart was tangled up like threads. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at him, startled, her eyes revealed a touch of shyness. Yang Guo stared at her eyes and remembered the time when Xiao Long Nuu left him, her shy and loving eyes stared at him, he couldn’t help from calling out and jumping up.
Wan Yan Ping jumped up in fright, she wanted to ask what was it but couldn’t open her mouth. Yang Guo’s heart was in a mess, all he saw in front of him were Xiao Long Nuu’s eyes. That day when he saw her eyes, he was a young boy who wasn’t yet clear about things, he respected Xiao Long Nuu and so didn’t understood what she meant but after leaving the mountain he spent a few days with Lu Wu Shuang, and now he was brushing Wan Yan Ping’s face by the side of her ear, suddenly his heart came alive, he understood now, he now understood the affection and love of Xiao Long Nuu, he couldn’t refrain from feeling thousands of feelings of regret and grief, he wanted to run into a tree and kill himself, he thought, “Gu Gu loves me deeply and said she wanted to be wife, I unexpectedly rejected her good wishes, where on earth do I start searching for her?” He suddenly cried out and threw himself forward, holding Wan Yan Ping, and kissed her eyes forcefully.
When Wan Yan Ping saw his forceful and mad actions she was frightened and pleased, she felt his arms were like metal, holding tightly to her waist, she closed her eyes and let him do what he wanted. She felt his lips kiss her eyes only and didn’t move from them, she thought about how although his person is forceful, he kept his words, but she didn’t know why he kissed her eyes only.
Suddenly Yang Guo called out, “Gu Gu, Gu Gu!” The voice carried the warmth of love yet it carried extreme sorrow. Wan Yan Ping was about to ask him who is he calling out when suddenly a girl’s voice from behind said, “May I trouble you two!”
Yang Guo and Wan Yan Ping were both startled, they both leapt away form each other and saw someone standing by the tree, they wore a blue green gown.
Wan Yan Ping’s heart was still jumping, her face red, she lowered her head and tugged at the corner of her clothes, and didn’t dare to look at the person.
Yang Guo recognised this person, it was the person who had lured Li Mo Chou away from the inn a few days ago, he and Lu Wu Shuang had their lives saved thanks to her, she had two knots of hair on her head, it was a girl, he bowed deeply and said, “I won’t forgot miss’ help that day.”
The girl returned the greeting and said, “Master Yang, at this moment in time do you still remember your companion?”
Yang Guo said, “You are talking about…”
The girl clearly said, “Li Mo Chou and her disciple have just captured her!”
Yang Guo was shocked, his voice quivered and said, “Really? Is she …she in danger?”
The girl clearly said, “She will be alright for the time being. Miss Lu said that the beggars took the codex, the ‘Serpent Demon’ is holding her and chasing after them. Her life will be safe for the moment but she won’t avoid torture.”
Yang Guo called out, “We’ll quickly go and rescue her.”
The girl shook her head and said, “Master Yang’s kung fu is high but I’m afraid you are still not a match for the ‘Serpent Demon’. There is no use in us losing our lives in vain.”
Under the flat starlight he saw that the girl’s face was unspeakably ugly, the flesh on the face did not move like the face of a dead person, when one sees it, they can’t refrain from being terrified, Yang Guo looked at her a few times and didn’t dare to look at her again but thought, “That girl is a kind and considerate person, but she has such an odd face, what a pity. If I look at her again, I won’t be able to show some signs of being shocked, I’ll offend her then.” He asked, “Can I have the name of miss?”
The girl said, “There is no need to remember such a lowly name, Master Yang will know it in the near future, what’s most important now is to think of a way to rescue miss Lu.” When she talked, the flesh on her face didn’t move, if one didn’t hear words coming from her mouth, they would think that she was a walking corpse. But its strange, her voice was soft, gentle and simple, it can revitalise a tired person and make one forget their worries.
Yang Guo said, “Since it is so, we’ll rely on miss to rescue miss Lu. I will listen to your orders.”
The girl was courteous and said, “Master Yang please don’t be formal, your skills are better than mine ten times over, when it comes to intelligence, I’m even further behind. You are older than me, and you are a man, whatever you say we’ll do, young girl here will follow the decision.”
Yang Guo heard that these words were polite and gracious, his heart had an unspeakable comfortable feeling, he thought that although the girl’s face was frightening, her words were gentle and soothing, one cannot judge someone from their looks, he pondered and then said, “How about we’ll follow in secret and make the rescue when the chance comes.”
The girl said, “That’s a good idea. But what about Miss Wan Yan?” As she said this she moved away and let the two discuss the matter.
Yang Guo said, “Sister, I need to go and rescue a friend, we’ll meet again some day.”
Wan Yan Ping lowered her head and said, “Although I’m my abilities are low, I can still be of help. Brother Yang, I’ll follow and help you in your rescue.”
Yang Guo was pleased and said, “Great, great!” He made he pitched his voice up and said to the blue green girl, “Miss, miss Wan Yan is willing to come along with us for the rescue.”
The girl came closer and said to Wan Yan Ping, “Miss Wan Yan, you are of an important status, you must think about this. Our enemy is extremely ruthless and vindictive, people in Jiang Hu call her the ‘Serpent Demon’, it really is in one’s best interests to avoid her.” Her tone was still courteous and polite.
Wan Yan Ping said, “Without mentioning the fact that I’m indebted to brother Yang, his business is my business. A friend like sister here is definitely worth making. I’ll follow sister and we’ll be cautious.”
The girl came over and held her hand and softly said, “Nothing could be better than that. You are older than me, call me younger sister.”
In the dark, Wan Yan Ping could not see her ugly face, but she heard he soft and gentle voice, a soft and tender hand held onto hers, she assumed that she was a beautiful girl, she was happy and asked, “How old you?”
The girl lightly laughed and said, “Let’s not compare our ages. Master Yang, what’s most important now is to rescue your friend, isn’t it?”
Yang Guo said, “Yes, please can miss show us the way.”
The girl said, “I saw them heading in a south east direction, they must be heading for Wu Guan.”
The three then utilized their lightness kung fu and hurried to the southeast. The Ancient Tomb sect’s kung fu’s forte is lightness kung fu, it could be classed as the world’s number one. Wan Yan Ping martial arts may not be anything special but her lightness kung fu was not weak. How was it that the girl in blue green followed behind her without breaking speed? When Wan Yan Ping was going fast, she went fast, when she slowed down, the girl slowed down, the gap between them remained constant at one, two paces. Yang Guo was secretly surprised, “What sect is that girl from, from her lightness kung fu, her skills are higher than sister Wan Yan’s.” He didn’t want to lead in front of the two girls and so slipped to the back.
The travelled until the sky became bright, the girl took out some food from her bag and gave it to the two. Yang Guo saw that although her blue green gown was plain and natural, it’s design was exquisite, it fitted perfectly to the body. On her body, the gown showed off her slim, graceful and elegant disposition, it was superior to embroidered clothes. Water, food and all other supplies were all prepared by her, showing off how meticulous and careful she was.
Wan Yan Ping saw her face and was startled, she didn’t dare to take any more glances and thought, “There’s such an ugly girl on this earth?”
The girl waited for the two to finish their food and said, “Master Yang, Li Mo Chou knows you, yes?”
Yang Guo said, “She’s seen me a few times.”
The girl took out a thin towel like object from her bag and said, “This is a human skin mask, once you’ve worn it she won’t be able to recognise you.”
Yang Go took it in his hand and saw that the mask had four holes for the eyes, mouth and nose, when he placed it on his face it matched the shape of his face, like as if he was born with it, he thanked her with joy.
Wan Yan Ping saw Yang Guo put on the mask, his face was now extremely ugly and then she understood, “Sister, so you’re wearing a human skin mask as well, I’m really dumb, I thought you really was born with that weird face. I’m really sorry.”
The girl gave a quiet laugh and said, “With Master Yang’s handsome face, wearing this mask is asking a lot from him. With my face, it’s the same whether I wear it or not.”
Wan Yan Ping said, “I don’t believe that! Sister, could you take off your mask and let me see your face?”
Yang Guo was curious and he too was anxious to see her face, but the girl took two steps back and laughed, and said, “Don’t look, don’t look, my face will scare you guys.” Wan Yan Ping saw that she won’t take it off and so didn’t ask her again.
By midday the three arrived as Wu Guan. They found a restaurant in the town and had something to eat. The waiters saw Yang Guo was wearing Mongolian clothes and didn’t dare to be slow, they made sure they tended to his needs first. The three was halfway through their food when they saw three females enter the restaurant; it was Li Mo Chou and her disciple along with Lu Wu Shuang in captive.

HK47: Now do you understand the travails of my existence master? Surely it does not compare to your existence but still...
You: I survive somehow
HK47: As do I. It is our lot in life I suppose master. Shall we find something to kill to cheer ourselves up?

Yang Guo thought that although Li Mo Chou could not possibly recognise him at this moment in time, his strange face would attract her suspicions and won’t be convenient for him to act so he turned around and ate his rice, lowering his body to hear their conservation. But who could have known that Lu Wu Shuang didn’t make a sound, after Li Mo Chou and Hong Ling Bo ordered, they too didn’t make a sound.
Wan Yan Ping had heard Yang Guo describe Li Mo Chou and her disciples before, she was anxious and dipped her chopstick into a bowl of soup and wrote on the table, “Time to move?”
Yang Guo thought, “Even with us three and wifey, it’ll be hard for us to beat the two of them. We can only win by using our brains, we can’t use force.” He waved his chopstick.
There were footsteps from the stairs, two people emerged. Wan Yan Ping glanced over, it was Ye Luu Qi and Ye Luu Yan. The two people also noticed that Wan Yan Ping was here and both were surprised, they nodded and then found a table to sit down. The two knew that Wan Yan Ping had left and wasn’t going to assassinate their father again so they left their father and brother and went travelling. They were even more relaxed when they saw Wan Yan Ping was here.
Li Mo Chou was troubled by the fact that the ‘Five Poison Codex’ had fallen into the hands of the Beggar Clan, in these few days she had no appetite to eat, she just ate half a bowl of noodles and then placed her chopsticks on the table. She raised her head and looked out of the restaurant, on the corner of the street she saw two beggars, on their backs their were five pockets, they were five band beggar clan members. She had a thought and went over to the window, she signalled to the beggars and said, “Beggar Clan members, please come up, Taoist nun here has a message for your clan’s chief.” She knew that if she asked them to come up for no reason, they might not come, if she said she had a message for their chief, they would definitely come.
Lu Wu Shuang heard her master calling the beggars and knew that she wanted to inquire about the whereabouts of the ‘Five Poison Codex’, her face couldn’t refrain from turning white. Ye Luu Qi knew that the Beggar Clan were a powerful force up here in the north, this beautiful nun actually had something to say to them, he didn’t know who she was, his curiosity was roused, he stopped drinking and watched them.
In a short while, the sound of footsteps could be heard from their, two beggar clan members emerged and greeted Li Mo Chou and said, “What does angelic nun want, we’ll follow the request.” After they greeted her they stood up. One of the beggars saw that Lu Wu Shuang was present and his face immediately changed, he had tangled with her before, he pulled his friend and leapt to the entrance of the stairs.
Li Mo Chou gave a wry smile and said, “Please take a look at the back of your hands.” The beggars looked on their back of their hands only to see three red prints on the back of their hands, they didn’t know on earth that she managed to do this, she used her [Divine Five Poison Palm] without disturbing ghosts and gods. The beggars didn’t even know she had done something, even Yang Guo and Ye Luu Qi couldn’t see clearly what had happened.
The beggars were startled and both called out, “You’re… you’re the ‘Serpent Deity’?”
Li Mo Chou softly said, “Go and tell your chief, your clan and the one named Li has always kept away from each other, ‘the river water does not mix with the well water’, I have always admire the heroes of the Beggar Clan, it’s just that I’ve never had the chance to acquaint myself with the clan, I really am regretful.”
The beggars looked at her and thought, “It sounds nice but why did you use your poisonous techniques on us for no reason?”
Li Mo Chou took a break and then carried on, “The two of you have fallen victim to the [Divine Five Poison Palm], don’t worry, all you’ve got to do is return the book you stole and I will help you cure it.”
One of the beggars said, “What book?”
Li Mo Chou laughed and said, “That old book isn’t worth much, if your clan won’t return it, its not too important. I’ll just take the thousand Beggar Clan member’s life as compensation.”
The two beggars’ arm didn’t feel anything strange but each time they listened to one sentence, they would look down at their hands, they have heard about how evil and poisonous the ‘Serpent Deity’ was, after fallen victim to her, you will suffer an extreme pain as you die, their heart was now imagining things, the three red marks on their hands seemed to be getting bigger, they heard the ruthlessness and evil she spoke with, they wanted to go and tell their elders and plan what to do. They looked at each other and hurried down the stairs.
Li Mo Chou thought, “If your chief wants you to live, she would definitely hand over the ‘Five Poison Codex’ obediently... crap, if they copy down the book and return the original to me what then?” She had another thought, “My divine palm’s and concealed weapons’ antidote are all written in the book, they’ve got the book, why will they beg me?” When she thought about this her face changed, she flew over to them and blocked their path, two palm clashes were heard as she returned them up the stairs. A yellow blur was seen as she moved up and down the stairs, when she returned upstairs she held one of the beggar’s arms and twisted it, a ‘ka la’ sound as the bone was broken. The other beggar was alarmed but he was loyal to his friend, he didn’t run away and dashed forward to protect his friend, he saw Li Mo Chou coming forward and threw out a fist. Li Mo Chou grabbed his wrist without trying and twisted it, the arm was broken.
The two beggars saw that they suffered serious injuries in just one stance, they knew that they had no luck today, the two stood back to back and raised their good arm, deciding to fight to the end.
Li Mo Chou said courteously, “You two better stay here and wait for your chief to bring the book here as ransom.”
The two beggars saw her return to her table and drank wine, her backs to them, they slowly edged towards the stairs and wait for a chance to escape.
Li Mo Chou turned around and laughed and said, “It seems that the two of you are going to remain here only if your legs are broken.” She stood up.
Hong Ling Bo couldn’t bear it anymore and said, “Master, just let me guard them, I won’t let them escape.”
Li Mo Chou chuckled and said, “Huh, you’ve got a good conscience.” She slowly walked towards the two beggars.
Ye Luu Qi and his sister have been watching from the side, they couldn’t bear it any longer and both of them stood up.
Ye Luu Qi whispered, “Sister, run away, this woman is really powerful.”
Ye Luu Yan whispered, “What about you?”
Ye Luu Qi said, “As soon as I’ve saved the two beggars, I’ll immediately run away.”
Ye Luu Yan knew that there weren’t many people who his brother can’t beat, when he said that he needs to escape with his life, she couldn’t believe it.
At this time, Yang Guo slapped the table with force, and went over the Ye Luu Qi and said, “Brother Ye Luu, how about we save them together?” He knew that if he wanted to save Lu Wu Shuang, he would eventually have to fight, with a skilled person who was willing to save someone like Ye Luu Qi, how could he not drag him down with him?
Ye Luu Qi saw that he was dressed in the clothes of a Mongolian general, his face was extremely ugly, he has never seen this person in his life, he thought that this person was actually sitting with Wan Yan Ping and knew who he was, but with Li Mo Chou’s kung fu, it would be hard for him to win, if a normal person intervened they would definitely lose their life in vain. He couldn’t reply for the time being.
Li Mo Chou heard Yang Guo talk and examined him, his voice seemed familiar but no one can forget a face like his, and decided that she didn’t know him.
Yang Guo said, “I don’t have a weapon, I need to borrow a weapon.” As he said this he flew past Hong Ling Bo’s body and picked up her sword from her belt, he smelt her face and said, “Very fragrant!”
Hong Ling Bo threw out a palm, he ducked and darted underneath it and stood between Li Mo Chou and the beggars. The essence to his movements were remarkable, it was the advanced kung fu he learnt while catching sparrows in the ancient tomb. Li Mo Chou was secretly alarmed.
Ye Luu Qi was delighted and said, “What is this brother’s name?”
Yang Guo swaggered his left arm and said, “Little brother here is called Yang.” He raised the sword sheath and said, “I stole a broken sword.” He took the sword out of its sheath, the sword was indeed broken.
Hong Ling Bo realized who he was and called out, “Little punk. Master, it’s him.”
Yang Guo took off his mask and said, “Martial uncle, apprentice sister, Yang Guo greets you.”
When he said ‘Martial uncle, apprentice sister’, Ye Luu Qi was mystified, Lu Wu Shuang was even more surprised, “Why on earth is Sha Dan calling them martial uncle and apprentice sister?”
Li Mo Chou chuckled and said, “Hmm, how’s your master?”
Yang Guo’s heart ached a little, his eyes went red.
Li Mo Chou coldly said, “Your master has taught a good disciple.”
Days ago, Yang Guo had used unorthodox techniques to neutralise her most lethal stances the [Three Without Three Without Hands] technique, and after he took away her flywhisk with his teeth, his skills were strange, it was unimaginably strange, although she managed to take her flywhisk back and knew that her skills were much higher than his, she pondered, “This little punk is making very rapid progress, apprentice sister is even more extraordinary. So the [Jade Heart Manual] is this good. It was lucky that apprentice sister did not team up with him to fight me, otherwise, otherwise…” Right now she saw him appearing again, she was secretly afraid as she looked around, seeing whether Xiao Long Nuu was here or not.
Yang Guo knew what she was thinking, he laughed and said, “My master asks for martial uncle’s health.”
Li Mo Chou said, “Where is she? Us sisters haven’t seen each other for a long time.”
Yang Guo said, “Master is nearby. You will see her shortly.” He knew that he wasn’t a match for her, even with Ye Luu Qi’s help it will still be difficult, so he used an ‘Empty City Idea’, frightening her with his master.
Li Mo Chou said, “I’m disciplining my disciple, what has that got to do with your master?”
Yang Guo laughed and said, “My master pleads martial uncle to let apprentice sister Lu go.”
Li Mo Chou chuckle and said, “You have relations with your senior, you and your master have done such things, in front of others you say master this and master that, aren’t you ashamed?”
Yang Guo knew that she was insulting his master, his blood boiled up to his chest, he picked up the sword sheath and unleashed his sword skills, and fiercely attacked.
Li Mo Chou laughed and said, “You can do such unspeakable things, yet you are afraid of others talking about it?” Yang Guo used the sword sheath and attacked continuously, it was severe and pressed forward without resistance, it was the sword skills left by Wong Chong Yang to counter Lin Chao Ying’s Jade Sword techniques. Li Mo Chou didn’t dare to be careless, she used her flywhisk and concentrated on the incoming stances. The techniques of Li Mo Chou’s whisk originated from the Jade Sword techniques, many stances had passed and felt the opponent’s sword skills were extremely refined and ingenious, every stance and every move of hers were predicted by the opponent and was intercepted by him, if were not for the fact that she was much more powerful than him, she would have started to lose, she thought with anger, “Master is really biased, only teaching apprentice sister this set of sword technique. Huh, she probably wanted apprentice sister to use this to neutralise me. Although this sword technique is extraordinary, does that mean I’m going to be scared of it?”
She changed her stance and suddenly moved forward, leaping onto the table, her right leg kicked out, her left leg supporting herself on the side of the table, her body moved back and forth without effort, like a leaf floating in the breeze. She laughed and said, “Did you lover teach you this move? I don’t think even she will know this.”
Yang Guo was alarmed and angrily said, “What lover?”
Li Mo Chou laughed, “My apprentice sister had swore a serious oath, if there wasn’t a man who was willing to die for her, she would spend eternity in the tomb and never set foot off the mountain. She has followed you down from the mountain, you two aren’t husband and wife, if she isn’t your lover then who is?”
Yang Guo was extremely angry and didn’t reply, he rushed forward with the sword sheath and leapt onto the table. His lightness kung fu couldn’t compare with the opponents so he didn’t step on the side of the table, he stepped on some bowls but he remained steady and chopped across fiercely with the sheath.
Li Mo Chou raised her flywhisk and repelled the sheath. She laughed and said, “Your lightness kung fu is not bad! Your lover has treated you well, it could be said that she was loved you very much.”
Yang Guo was furious and couldn’t restrain himself, he shouted out, “The one called Li, are you a human? Are you speaking a human language?” He raised his sheath and quickly attacked forwards.
Li Mo Chou calmly said, “If you don’t other to know then don’t give them anything to know about. My Ancient Tomb sect has come out with these two scum, we have lost all face.” As she was attacking, she incessantly came out with sarcastic comments. She may be ruthless but when she spoke, she was normally polite and courteous, what she was saying now was against her character, it was because she was worried about Xiao Long Nuu watching by the side, if she suddenly came out and attacked it would be difficult for her to fight them off so she kept up the insults, wanting to make Xiao Long Nuu so ashamed that she won’t come out.
Yang Guo could not bear it, if she was insulting him, he wouldn’t care but Xiao Long Nuu was the one being insulted, under such anger, his arms and legs shivered, his head felt faint, his eyes suddenly went black and couldn’t stand up, and fell from the table. Li Mo Chou raised her flywhisk and attacked down onto his crown.
Ye Luu Qi saw that this was an urgent situation, he picked up some wine cups and threw it at Li Mo Chou. Li Mo Chou heard the wind sounds and took a glance, it was some wine cups, she breathed deeply and protected her pressure points on her back, she had to kill Yang Guo now and worry about this later, thinking why should she be worried about two little wine cups. Who would have thought that before the cups arrived the wine splashed out, she felt her ‘To Yang’, and ‘Central’ pressure points felt numb after being hit by the wine, she secretly called out, “Crap! Apprentice sister is here. If the effects with the wine is like this, what about the wine cups?” She quickly turned her flywhisk around and knocked the two wine cups away just in time, she felt her arms shake, and was even more worried, “How did she get so strong?”
When she turned around, she saw that it wasn’t Xiao Long Nuu who shot the cups out, it was a tall young man dressed in Mongolian clothes, she was extremely surprised, “There are so many good fighters in the younger generation?” She saw him take out his long sword and clearly said, “Angelic nun’s attack are ruthless, I want to experience a few stances.” Li Mo Chou saw him slowly advancing, his foot steps solid, he was about twenty or so, but from judging from how he shot out the cups and how he was moving with his sword, his internal energy exceeded this age, she examined him and laughed, “Who are you? Who is your master?”
Ye Luu Qi bowed and said, “I am Ye Luu Qi, I’m under the tutelage of Quan Zhen sect.”
Yang Guo had leapt to the side, when he heard that Ye Luu Qi was from the Quan Zhen sect he thought, “He indeed is from Quan Zhen, could he be Liu Chu Xuan’s disciple? Hao Da Tong can’t teach something to such a standard.”
Li Mo Chou asked, “Is your master Ma Yu or Qiu Chu Ji?”
Ye Luu Qi said, “No.”
Li Mo Chou asked, “Is it Liu, Wang or Hao?”
Ye Luu Qi said, “Wrong as well.”
Li Mo Chou chuckled and pointed to Yang Guo, “He said he was the disciple of Wong Chong Yang’s, that makes you two apprentice brothers.”
Ye Luu Qi was surprised and said, “Is not true is it? Elder Chong Yang has died a long time ago, how can that brother over there be his disciple?”
Li Mo Chou’s brows wrinkled and said, “Hei, hei, Quan Zhen have many disciples who can lie without blinking, I’m going to change Quan Zhen’s name into ‘Quan Jia’, enguarde!” (Quan Zhen could be translated as Whole Truth, Quan Jia is translated as Whole Fake.) Her flywhisk moved and attacked the head.
Ye Luu Qi’s left hand raised his sword, his left foot stepped forward, a stance of [Fixed Yang Needle], the sword was thrust upwards, it was the orthodox sword skills of Quan Zhen. This stance’s air and chi was absolute, the strength, power, stance all has its fine points, on first appearances it looks very ordinary, but to reach a state where there was no weakness, people whose talent was just slightly lacking may not be able to reach such a state with a lifetime of practise. Yang Guo has learnt Quan Zhen sword techniques in the Ancient Tomb so of course he knew the essence of the sword skills, but he just learnt it without really practising it, no matter what he would not be able to demonstrate this stance with such profoundness.
When Li Mo Chou saw him unleashing this stance she knew that he was a strong enemy, she strode across and lashed her flywhisk. Ye Luu Qi saw a grey blur move, the flywhisk’s thread were to the left and back of him, sweeping in from all directions, his battle experience was shallow, this is the first time he has met a strong enemy, he concentrated and used all his strength to fight her. In a flash forty stances were exchanged, Ye Luu Qi coiled his sword back slightly, he saw defeat in front of him but if Li Mo Chou wanted to win right now, she will not be able to succeed.
She secretly praised him, “This little punk is indeed using the refined skills of Quan Zhen, although he can’t compare with Qiu, Liu and Wang, he won’t lose to Sun Bu Er. There are indeed many able people in Quan Zhen.
A few more stances passed when Li Mo Chou sold him a dummy. Ye Luu Qi didn’t know it was trap, he raised his sword and thrust forwards, Li Mo Chou suddenly threw out her left leg and struck his wrist, Ye Luu Qi’s arm was in pain, the sword escaped from his hands. Though he was being defeated he didn’t panic, his left hand slashed across, his right hand used the [Trapping Hand Techniques] to try to steal her flywhisk.
Li Mo Chou smiled and praised him, “Very handsome kung fu!”
After many moves, she felt that his techniques had extreme softness, Liu Chu Xuan and Sun Bu Er and the others did not have this, she was secretly surprised.
Yang Guo interrupted with an insult, “*****, I’ll never acknowledge you as my martial uncle ever again.” He raised his sword sheath and attacked.
Li Mo Chou saw Ye Luu Qi’s sword had fallen, she wrapped the sword with her flywhisk and shot it out at Yang Guo’s face and laughed, saying, “You are your master’s man, you could call me apprentice sister.” Yang Guo saw the incoming sword and raised his sword sheath forward. Lu Wu Shuang and Wan Yan Ping both called out in alarm, but there was a ‘shua’ noise as the sword was shot into the sword sheath exactly. The placement of the sheath to catch the sword was extremely, if the sheath was just a millimetre or so out; the force that Li Mo Chou shot the sword out with, the sword would have pierced through his chest. However, he has learnt the art of projectile throwing in the Ancient Tomb, the timing, weight and accuracy of his skills were reached to a stage where there wasn’t any errors, the hair like ‘Jade Bee Needle’ would hit its target as soon as he shoots it out, catching the sword with the sheath wasn’t a difficult skill for him. He took the sword out of the sheath and attacked with Ye Luu Qi.
The tables and benches were all overturned, bowls were broken, all the guest had long gone. In all the time that Hong Ling Bo has been with her master, she has never seen her losing in battle, she lost out to Xiao Long Nuu in the Ancient Tomb because she couldn’t swim; her flywhisk was snatched away by Yang Guo but was taken back immediately and she forced Yang Guo to run away, but watching the two teaming up attacking her master, she was slightly worried about her but she stood to the side and watched. The three of them fought engagingly in battle, Li Mo Chou changed her stances, her flywhisk producing strong winds, forcing the two to wobble, in a flash, Yang Guo and Ye Luu Qi faced some dangerous stances.
Ye Luu Yan and Wan Yan Ping both called out, “Oh no.” They both stepped up to help. After using just three stances, Ye Luu Yan was struck on the left leg with the flywhisk, she was flung to the side and knocked into a table. Ye Luu Qi saw that his sister was hurt and became flustered, under the fierce attack of Li Mo Chou he kept on retreating backwards.
The girl in blue green saw the situation was urgent, she dashed forward to take Ye Luu Yan out of the danger. Li Mo Chou’s eyes saw every and ears heard everything, she saw that the girl’s movements were light, displaying signs that she was a disciple of a famous name, she swung her flywhisk across her face and asked, “What is miss’ name? Who is your master?” There was a distance of over ten feet between them, in a flash the flywhisk was swung in front of her face. The girl in blue green was startled, her right hand waved out, from her sleeve she took out a weapon, and blocked the flywhisk. Li Mo Chou saw that this weapon was extremely strange, it glittered like a gem, it was about three imperial feet long, it looked like a jade flute, she searched her mind, “Which sect or family uses such a weapon?” She quickly attacked wanting her to display her skills. The girl could not hold on, Yang Guo and Ye Luu Qi dashed forward to help. But it was hard to defend against Li Mo Chou’s her swift and fluent style, stances from the east and palms from the west, in a flash danger came again.
Yang Guo thought, “All we’ve got to do is make one little mistake and our lives would be hard to protect.”
He opened his mouth and called out, “My good wifey, sister, my sister in blue green, sister Ye Luu, let’s all leave the restaurant and take a break! That ***** is very lethal.”
The four girls saw him calling out madly, no one could say a word of ‘fine’, their brows creased, they saw it was now a very urgent and desperate situation. Lu Wu Shuang first went downstairs followed by the girl in blue green who was supporting Ye Luu Yan. The two beggars saw the young heroes fighting Li Mo Chou because of them, they wanted to go forward and help but their arms were broken and couldn’t fight. The two were very loyal, although Li Mo Chou was not watching them, they didn’t dare to leave before Yang Guo and the others.
Yang Guo and Ye Luu Qi fought together against Li Mo Chou’s stances, which were becoming more and more lethal, they carried Wan Yan Ping and retreated downstairs.
Yang Guo said, “Brother Ye Luu, our movements are restricted, let’s go downstairs and fight.” He fought that once they were in a crowded place, they will be able to escape.
Ye Luu Qi said, “Fine!”
The two stood shoulder to shoulder and retreated down the stairs. Li Mo Chou kept on attacking, although she was winning she was angry, “In my life, whoever I wanted to kill I killed, today two young punks are blocking my way, if Lu Wu Shuang that little ***** escapes, where will the great name of the ‘Serpent Deity’ go?” She wanted to snatch back Lu Wu Shuang and so attacked down the stairs.
Everyone fought with all their strength, they battled from the restaurant into the street, from the street they battled into the suburbs.
Yang Guo kept on calling out, “Good wifey, my dear sister the further you run the better. Sister Ye Luu and my sister in blue green, you better leave, the two of us won’t die.”
Ye Luu Qi didn’t say a word, he was older than Yang Guo by only a few years, but he had a serious and stern air, completely different to Yang Guo’s easy going, rash and hot-tempered manner. The two of them fought together against the enemy, Ye Luu Qi dealt with the ruthless attacks of the enemy, Yang Guo darted around to divert the enemy’s attention.
Li Mo Chou saw that Xiao Long Nuu had not appeared and was now at ease, she concentrated on the battle. The internal energy that Yang Guo and Ye Luu Qi had accumulated could not compare with Li Mo Chou’s, as they battled to this point, the two of them were red and out of breath.
When Li Mo Chou saw this she was pleased, “In under an hour I’ll be able to take their lives.”
At this moment, the air was suddenly filled with the calls of birds, the calls were clear, two large condors attacked her head, four wings created gusts of wind, dirt and dust filled the arena, the force of the calls were frightening.